Before the Leader announces the Order of Business, I wish to congratulate her and her fiancé, Jarlath Munnelly, who have announced their engagement. We wish them many happy years of marriage, happiness and love together.
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Comhghairdeas.
Comhghairdeas.
The Leader seems shocked.
I assume Jarlath knows.
He does, yes. The Cathaoirleach has thrown me a little.
The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding arrangements for the sitting of the House on Thursday, 26 January 2023, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on wind energy, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, time can be shared, and the Minister is to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 3, Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022 - Committee Stage (Resumed), to be taken at 2.30 p.m. and to adjourn at 4.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 125(5), Private Members' business - motion regarding public transport policing, to be taken at 4.30 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.
I raise the VAT rate for the tourism and hospitality sector, which, as Senators are aware, is currently at a special rate of 9%. This special rate is due to expire on 28 February, with the rate returning to 13.5% from 1 March. Given the challenges facing these sectors as a result of spiralling costs, we must reconsider and announce the retention of the 9% VAT rate for the year ahead. The Government has always said it would keep the situation under review and that it was not firmly committed to any schedule. As I am sure my colleagues know, I speak to businesses operating in these sectors daily and weekly, especially in Galway city and county, and it has never been more challenging than it is now. Inflationary pressures have resulted in spiralling costs for the industry and many businesses are not fully passing these on to consumers for obvious reasons. It would be simply wrong for the Government to make this problem even worse.
I raised this issue with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, and his officials and I believe the Government will make a decision in the best interests of the hospitality sector, looking at hotels, restaurants, bars and the tourism sector as a whole. I have been assured there is significant support for what I have proposed within the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.
It should also be noted that the hospitality sector was perhaps the hardest hit by the pandemic and that large parts of it were shut down for two years. The sector has moved from one crisis to another over the past few years, none of which has been of its own making. The cost-of-living challenges facing Europe and most of the world means consumers are becoming much more careful with their budgets and where they plan to visit. They are looking for more value for their buck and being more thrifty as they try to make their disposable income go further. As a welcoming country, we cannot afford to make Ireland less competitive at this point. The thousands of businesses, mainly SMEs, and the hundreds of thousands of people working in this sector need Government support. For this reason, I urge the Leader to raise this matter with Government Ministers to have it addressed and get the right outcome for all of our people.
I ask again for a debate on the concept of introducing dedicated step-down clinics within the HSE. This would allow people to be moved from major hospitals, freeing up beds and allowing them time to recuperate properly in a step-down clinic. I raise this matter because I come from the town of Dundalk, which is in a Border area. On the other side of the Border, the National Health Service, NHS, in the North is moving services from Daisy Hill Hospital back to Craigavon Area Hospital. Louth County Hospital was dramatically downgraded ten or 15 years ago. It is as if the two hospitals are on the edge of the world. There is no reason that someone who has an accident in the Cooley Peninsula or north Louth should be red-lighted all the way to Drogheda when Daisy Hill Hospital is only 5 km or 10 km away. I would love to see a dedicated cross-Border health strategy in parallel with proper step-down clinics.
Why I talk about step-down clinics, the Louth hospital was downgraded a number of years ago. There are now people calling for the full reopening of the hospital. This is disingenuous because it is not going to happen. Politically speaking, that is simply not going to happen. It is just for people to get an easy by-line or a front page in the local newspaper. Let us do something properly that we can do. Changing those hospitals into properly formed step-down clinics would be a really useful way to make sure that they are properly used. For example, in the north east, we have Dundalk, Drogheda, Navan, Cavan and Monaghan and all the pressure from those areas is going straight on to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. If we consider Louth as an example, we have a fully functioning hospital that we can utilise and turn into a step-down clinic to get people out of our hospitals and give them a proper amount of time to recuperate. If a person has a stroke, for example, and cannot go home because he or she is waiting for a housing adaptation grant to make the home suitable, then step-down clinics are really useful. It really annoys me and is disingenuous when people use stuff like this as political football to suggest reopening an entire hospital which has been downgraded for ten or 15 years simply because it is a nice soundbite. Let us do something proper about it. Let us have a look at hospital facilities around the country that can be utilised properly as step-down clinics. So many more services could go into a hospital like the Louth hospital in Dundalk if it was properly utilised. At the same time, it is about being responsible and not just suggesting reopening this and that in response to the health crisis.
Go raibh míle maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I was not here yesterday, but I wish you well as you start out. I also wish the Leader well and offer my congratulations on her good news. I also welcome our Turkish delegation.
On St. Stephen's Day I read on the front page of The Irish Times that 95% of parents whose babies are diagnosed with Down's syndrome at the Rotunda Hospital choose to have an abortion. That was according to the master of the hospital, Professor Fergal Malone. He went on to say:
The reality is the vast majority choose to terminate. I do not have a view on whether that is the right thing. We do not advocate for it, that is just the lived experience.
I think it is more than the lived experience because it is the learned experience. We knew before the abortion referendum in 2018 that the figure was somewhere between 50% and 60%. Something has happened in our country. A few days later on New Year's Eve a famous person died. At one time he said the following:
We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary, each of us is the result of a thought of God.
I could not help but think, as I reflected back on The Irish Times article, how much richer that vision is, how much more noble it is compared with the cold and sterile words coming from the medical profession or some branches of it and how much better would our healthcare system would be if there was more of that vision but welcoming each person in his or her individuality and rooting for him or her right from the get go. Our health service would be much better if there was more of that spirit around.
On another subject, it would be good if we could debate at some point the work of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. I want to welcome its report on the consultation on the draft social personal and health education curriculum for schools. This time, it does try to reflect the various opinions expressed by parents, some of whom are concerned about the direction of relationship and sexuality education and who are keen to see respect for the ethos of individual schools, their characteristic spirit and so on. They also carry other views.
I would be concerned that the NCCA seems to place great store on what the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission says because it knows its view that international human rights standards supposedly on the right to freedom of religion or belief, do not entitle parents to withdraw children from sexuality education classes where relevant information is conveyed in an objective and impartial manner. There is the rub, what is objective and impartial? The time is coming when we have to have a debate in this country about whether in fact parents are to be respected as the primary educators. We need to hear from the NCCA on this and we also need to hear from the Minister for Education.
I want to begin by speaking about the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022. I have raised this Bill a number of times in the House and welcomed it. Each time I spoke about the legislation and welcomed and encouraged its progress through the Oireachtas, I always referenced with great pride and great affection, young Dáithi MacGabhann from Belfast. I am wearing my Dáithi superhero badge today. I assume Senator Hoey is wearing bright sparkly pink in solidarity with wee Dáithi too. She must have known what I was going to raise.
Wee Dáithi was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome which meant that from the time he was born he needed a heart transplant. His parents, Máirtín and Seph, began the "Donate for Dáithi" campaign and over a number of years they really galvanised and mobilised cross-party political and community support, and support among the sporting and athletic worlds. It was support from everybody.
I hope it does not sound too cliched but Dáithi really stole everyone's heart in highlighting his campaign. Over a long number of years, Dáithi and his family, along with others, eventually succeeded in getting one of those very rare occasions where Stormont came together unanimously to support the soft opt-out organ donation legislation.
Much like the human tissue Bill here in the South, that meant everyone in the North would become a donor unless they chose to opt out. That law became known as Dáithi's Law. Unfortunately, despite its passage and very disappointingly, because of the DUP's refusal to enter the Northern Ireland Assembly, the law cannot come into effect. Therefore, Máirtín, Seph and Dáithi and all of those other families now have to take up the fight again. With cross-party support they have been calling for the Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, MP, to move ahead with this legislation to ensure, even in the absence of the Assembly and the Executive, that this law can pass. At the heart of this legislation it is about saving lives. It is about adults and boys and girls who are waiting on organ donation.
I ask today, and I will write to all of my fellow group leaders this afternoon, asking for signatures to go to the Secretary of State in the North, Chris Heaton-Harris, asking that Dáithi's Law is moved and comes into effect without any delay. I am conscious that the best place for this to be dealt with and be resolved is in a sitting, functioning Assembly but in its absence we really need to ensure that Dáithi's Law becomes real law and that all of those waiting on organ donations are supported and can be reassured in the knowledge that this fight is has finally been won.
Over the last few weeks there have been a lot of disturbances on our streets around who should be here and who should not be here. There is very disturbing news coming from the Department that we may not have anywhere to house asylum seekers. People are coming here for protection and they have been advised not to travel to Ireland because we do not have the room for them.
There was an analysis from KOD Lyons about our European requirements and the implications that could have if we do not fulfil those. This was about the first case that the European Court of Human Rights recently granted two interim measures requiring Belgian authorities to comply with national court orders to provide accommodation for homeless seekers of international protection. This was a case called Camara v Belgium, if anyone wishes to look it up.
I will briefly outline what the case was about. Mr. Abdoulaye Camara was a seeker of international protection from Guinea who applied to Belgian authorities for international protection on 15 July 2022. Instead of being assigned a place or a reception facility, he was forced to live on the street, which is something we may be looking at here in Ireland. His legal team initiated proceedings through the labour court in Brussels saying that the neglect of the Belgian authorities had caused irreversible damage to his human dignity. The labour court ordered the subsidiary tasked with looking after international protection applicants to provide him with suitable accommodation and with material assistance to meet his basic needs in accordance with national law. However, this was not enforced so his legal team ended up taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights under a number of headings, including under Article 3 - not providing him with accommodation and appropriate reception facilities, and Article 6 - not giving him a fair hearing.
There are number of other areas that were brought before it. They reserved judgment on the admissibility of merits of the substantive application, but they said that Mr. Camara did in fact face a real risk of irreversible harm. The European court decided to indicate an interim measure and order the Belgian state to comply with the order of the labour court to provide accommodation and material assistance with Mr. Camara’s basic needs. This was only just before Christmas.
So what does this mean for Ireland? Particularly, those in Government parties here, and I do not know if this is to come from the House or what, but this ruling from European court shows that, in no uncertain terms, any attempt by the State to limit the right of international protection applicants to access basic accommodation and material assistance will possibly result in a forcible action before the European courts, even in circumstances where a domestic court is unable or unwilling to act. There is a very real and realistic potential that what our Government has said about not being able to provide international applicants with housing or material assistance will be in breach of the European courts. We may find ourselves in the European courts where an international applicant has been denied the services and there will be a judgment telling us that we have to do better. That is important to put on the record, considering what has been coming out of the Department over the past few days.
Yesterday, I spoke about the rise of hatred in Ireland. On the activities I saw last night, it does not matter what party somebody is with or what their politics is. Once that politics involves hating individuals because of who they are, that is what hurts many of us in this House. It breaks my heart to see the level of hatred towards migrants and refugees, because that once happened to Travellers. I am sure to God it will continue to happen to my community. I know exactly what it feels like to come from an oppressed community and I know exactly what it feels like to be the oppressor. It is sad to hear people from my and other working-class communities speak around not having enough houses for their own. Again, I will ask the question: Who is Ireland’s own?
It upsets me that I am here as a white person who is in a safe country. I was lucky to be born in Ireland. I call for the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to have a debate. Let us have a discussion around the services available for people who are seeking safety. We have to always put the human element into it. These people are fleeing war. These people have to flee from their countries because of their sexuality. Who are we to say that we do not want people to be safe? My child does not matter less than any other child within Irish society, nor does my child matter more. That is the same for a black or brown child or a child that is fleeing war.
The Ireland that I come from, of all of its fault, is not bitter hatred. I understand there are a few who feel that way. However, it is extremely dangerous. Genuinely, I am afraid of walking up the street and being attacked by these people of the far right.
We also have to remember that we can label them, call that racist and whatever else that goes with that, but the reality is that the people who they have with them are not racist; they are ordinary people who are living in fear, as I said yesterday. I call for a debate from the Minister of Justice, preferably, so people in this House will get an opportunity to express those debates and, most importantly, say that we are listening to our local communities. The people involved in the protest need to be listened to as well. They are not all racist or bad people. They are people who are oppressed and are becoming oppressors. We need to understand that before we label them.
I join in welcoming the delegation from Turkey. It is great to see members of the Parliament of Turkey coming to us. I also join in congratulating the Leader of the House, Senator Chambers, on her recent engagement. We look forward to the celebrations, which no doubt will go on for quite some time. I also support the Order of Business.
From the wonderful Granard in County Longford, I welcome Senator Carrigy's guests from Ardscoil Phádraig. Granard is synonymous with Eddie Macken and show jumping and also now with Senator Carrigy, who is next in the Order of Business.
As this is my first time to speak, I wish the Cathaoirleach well in his role. I also congratulate the Leader. I welcome the students from Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard. It is in my own local area and there are a number of students from my own local village. I see a number of students that I met at the young scientist exhibition last week in the RDS. I see Jack in the back row. I have been on the board of management of the school since I was first elected in 2009. It is an excellent school and educational institute. It has fantastic teachers. Their teacher, Ms Orlaith McLoughlin, is with them. I wish them well and hope they enjoy their day in Leinster House.
I wish to raise a couple of issue, one of which the Leader would be very familiar with. Every week, coming from Mayo up and down to Dublin, she travels on the N4. There were comments made by the Minister for Transport only in the past number of days on the funding for the motorway from Mullingar to Roosky, through County Longford. I have always highlighted that we need balanced regional development in the country. It is the one missing link from the regions back into our capital city. There were quite negative comments with regard to that project, which is at a stage of an emerging preferred route. I would like that issue highlighted. We need the funding put in place to keep that project going to a full planning permission stage so that when the significant resources that are needed to develop that motorway are in place, we have all that work done and we do not have a situation where it is knocked off the national development plan. It is extremely important. The Minister needs to come in and identify which projects will be funded going forward.
I raise the issue of affordable housing. We have Housing for All but, unfortunately, it is not housing for all. There are a certain number of counties that are not eligible for some of the schemes. One of them in particular is affordable housing. We have no affordable housing in our county. It is a massive need for people living in my home area, yet we are not eligible for it.
Like others, I take the opportunity to wish the Cathaoirleach well and congratulate him on his election. I look forward to working with him, as he has shown a great capacity to work right across the House in every role he has had.
I, too, want to join with others in congratulating my good friend, Senator Chambers, on her recent engagement. I wish her well in her life ahead. It is difficult to juggle the roles of wife, mother and national politician, which she is, but knowing her capacity, I have no doubt she will do it with great skill and to great success.
Like others in this House, across the Oireachtas and across the political divide, I attended a demonstration in Limerick at the weekend, which was a culmination of the frustration of people across the mid-west for what they have encountered in the delays in accessing the accident and emergency department at Limerick hospital, which is the central emergency facility for the mid-west region. It is very clear to me, and has been for many years, that people have reached a point of frustration with what is not happening at the emergency department in Limerick. Notwithstanding the great effort of doctors, nurses and everybody in there, who are working to the best of their ability, the infrastructure is not there. There was a new accident and emergency unit put in, but the bed capacity is not there. There is a new 95 bed block. There are 200 more beds promised and they need to be delivered without delay. I do not know what methodology can be used to set aside the normal planning process in an emergency situation, but it is an emergency situation and that needs to happen.
In addition, I would agree with others who have said that much greater use has to be made of the hospitals in Ennis and Nenagh, and St. John’s hospital. There is wonderful care delivered there at the moment through the medical assessment units and the minor injuries units. We should have a debate in this House to address the political side of this. Of course, it has to be done with the guidance of medical intervention. Anything that is proposed has to be safe. However, a hospital in Ennis could take at least another 50 beds, process many more patients directly through the medical assessment unit and the minor injuries unit and help to take the burden off the acute hospital in Limerick.
A Chathaoirligh, ar dtús báire déanaim mo chomhghairdeas leat as ucht an phoist nua. Is é seo an chéad uair a bhí seans agam é sin a rá. Déanaim comhghairdeas leatsa agus leis an gCeannaire maidir leis an ngealltanas atá déanta aici. Déanaim fíor-chomhghairdeas leatsa, a Cheannaire.
This morning, for the eighth time in this House, I want to raise the issue of the Thalidomide survivors in Ireland. I have raised this on a number of occasions inside and outside the House with the relevant Ministers but we are still in a situation where the day after the 60th birthday of Mr. John Stack, the youngest survivor of Thalidomide in this country, there is no solution for these people. Frankly, we are now getting to a stage where it is not only unfair and unreasonable, but absolutely ridiculous, that the State has failed to address this issue. There have been meetings and there is a legal case in being. In fact, this month represents the tenth anniversary of that case. Astonishingly, after ten years, they are still arguing about whether the case is statute barred. The anticipated cost of discovery alone accedes the realistic estimated assessment of what the settlement would be for these people. The time is now for the Minister for Health and for the Government to take serious steps to compensate the survivors of Thalidomide in this country and their families. They require three simple things: real compensation; a proper apology, which is still outstanding; and medical support, as they go on through their lives. That needs to come for all of the survivors, not only the people who were the parties to the case but the other people who have medical diagnoses of Thalidomide. Those people were not served well by this country. The drug was not withdrawn in a timely fashion from the market and they and their families, and their mothers, many of whom have passed on, have suffered enormously. The time is now. Let us get it done and let us make a commitment to these people that is long overdue.
I am pleased to welcome the students from St. Peter's school, Phibsborough, who are in the Gallery. On their behalf, I welcome Senator Fitzpatrick to address the Seanad on the Order of Business.
Comhghairdeas to you, a Chathaoirligh, on your new position. I am sure you will lead with distinction and courage. We are delighted to see you in the seat. Comhghairdeas also to our new Leader, Senator Chambers. I did not realise her good news, but I wish her a long life of love and happiness. She deserves both.
Today we are joined by pupils from St. Peter's school in Phibsborough. It is one of Dublin's oldest and proudest schools. These boys and girls are great citizens of our capital city and they are great students. They are joined by their teachers, Mr. Ryan and Aiveen - all the way from the kingdom in Kerry although we do not hold it against her. They are great examples of all of the talents and abilities of young people in our capital city. I am very proud to have the opportunity to welcome them here today.
I am my party's spokesperson on housing. I will use my remaining time to ask, in front of the girls and boys here today who know that this Government has made significant changes in terms of housing and unprecedented spending now is taking place, to change the direction of housing delivery. They want to know for the future that they will have a guarantee of a safe and secure home. The Leader will be aware an issue I have raised previously with Government is a debate on an amendment to the Constitution to ensure a right to housing for every citizen. The Government has been working on this since taking office more than a year ago. There is a proposal to come to Government. I would ask the Leader to commit that as soon as a proposal is brought to Government, she will arrange a debate in this House on an amendment to Bunreacht na hÉireann to insert a right to housing.
I want to acknowledge the Leader's good news and congratulate her. I myself was not aware of it until a few minutes ago.
A Chathaoirligh, I would like to acknowledge your rise to the position of Chair. I am delighted for you and your family. You will be an excellent Chair over the next two years. I say "Well done" to Senator Buttimer.
I would like to have a debate in the next few weeks or months on the tourism industry, which has unparalleled issues coming towards it at present. Not alone do we have issues regarding the amount of accommodation available and where it will be available going into a tourism season, but also we have the issue about the VAT rate and how that will affect the industry. I refer to whether there we will have capacity, whether there will be an increase in VAT, and where this entire industry will go in the next few weeks and months. It is only appropriate that in the early part of the year we have that debate in this House and that we get the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, in before us to discuss her long-term plans for the industry in this period of unbelievable flux. A large amount of tourist accommodation full is at present with refugees, for example. How will the industry survive? What is the plan? Where will they go or how will the industry develop if we do not have the accommodation on the ground?
The VAT rate has also become a significant issue for the industry. Prices have gone up, energy costs have gone up, labour costs have gone up and now the VAT rate will go up as well. That will be a significant impediment, particularly for the rural tourism industries. Tourism providers in pllaces, such as west Cork, will be affected by that VAT rate increase. They do not have the luxury of being in a capital city or an urban centre, and we need to make sure we protect them. A debate with the Minister in the next few weeks in this Chamber to give us her vision on how she believes this industry will develop in the next few months would be important because there is great anxiety out there. They need to know what the plan is. At present, it is unclear. We need to put something down for them so that they can plan for the next few months.
I would like to raise with the Leader the young adult travel card. It was introduced on 9 May last year and extended to participating commercial operators in September of last year. It is a worthwhile scheme where students attending colleges or universities or doing traineeships anywhere in the South of Ireland will get a 50% reduction on the adult fare of that journey. It is a great idea and I very much welcome it. It has been welcomed broadly as well by everyone using the facility. It makes public transport more accessible and it is good for the environment. It is a win-win all the way round. Unfortunately, for a certain cohort of students, it does not work so well. The students I am referring to are students from the South of Ireland who are attending colleges or universities in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, it does not apply to them. I raised this matter, by way of a Commencement debate, six months ago and I was given a commitment then that the matter would be examined. I received no reply. Approximately 2,000 students and their families are affected by this. I wrote to the Department and the NTA, from which I received a response stating that if a student was travelling from any of the Border counties, primarily but not exclusively, the part of the journey that is in the South would be eligible for the 50% reduction but the part in the North would not be.
Crazy.
It is grossly unfair. I raised this matter by way of a Commencement yesterday and there has been no change. Frankly, that is not good enough. I respectfully request that the Leader ask the Minister for Transport to come in here. At a time we are promoting a shared island and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, this is discrimination against people, largely from Border counties such as Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal. It is unfair that this issue has not been addressed despite the fact that a commitment was given to me some time ago.
Hear, hear. Well said.m
I have called previously for a debate on the capital health plan. Many projects are in planning but we had a debate at the Joint Committee on Health this morning, not on capital infrastructure but on the unique health identifier, etc. The comment was made by the witnesses appearing before the committee that they will still need five, seven or eight years to develop that system even if they get the permissions from Government to proceed with the business case, etc. For any capital project now, whether it be in the health sector or anywhere else, from start to finish one could bw talking five to ten years or more to progress them and that has led to an element of disbelief among public about what is going on. Even when contractors can be appointed to a project, people will still generally not believe that it will progress unless they see the machines digging up the ground and clearing a site.
There is absolutely a need to progress capital projects. I know the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has a new title with regard to the delivery of the national development plan and I know the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is very much across all the health projects that are necessary in this country. Between both of them, there should be a debate on our national development plan or capital plans with regard to how they can be progressed. I know there is a review under way of the public spending code. Much can be discussed in this House with regard to health and the capital plan. I call for both the Ministers, Deputies Donnelly and Donohoe, to come in at the earliest opportunity to discuss delivery of projects because, at the end of the day, people need to see delivery. They expect delivery, be it on roads, health or a range of other issues. There are delays, some of which need to be expedited. Government action is needed with regard to targeting certain projects that can be delivered. I look forward, at the earliest opportunity, to a debate with the Ministers, Deputies Donnelly and Donohoe.
I follow on from Senator Dooley with regard to University Hospital Limerick, UHL. I was going to let my comments wait until tomorrow when we have the debate on hospitals in general. Some 11,000 people took to the streets of Limerick last week. We need the Minister to come here. We need a debate on the future of UHL. We need to ensure patients and staff are going to a safe environment. I acknowledge that considerable work has been done on the hospital over the past couple of weeks, especially since the emergency day was declared on 3 January. Numbers have come down significantly. My concern is that it will not be sustainable in the long term. Changes need to be made. Using the accident and emergency department in Mallow for triage has been considered. The three other hospitals - Nenagh, Ennis and St. John's hospitals - need to be better utilised. Community healthcare centres also need to be better utilised because many older people like to visit the community healthcare centres and feel safe there. An overall review is needed of how the hospital is run. The population has increased. We need to take on more consultants and nurses, but we need to ensure that at the end of the day, both staff and patients have a safe visit to the hospital. That is important because we are the third largest city and we deserve it. Our biggest problem is that we do not have a private hospital in the area. Plans were refused by the planning authority there for a proposed new private hospital. The Minister needs to come here and we need a full and accountable debate. I ask for the Leader's support on this.
I was in Westminster yesterday on British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly business and left just before the House of Lords started Committee Stage of the legacy legislation. I believe there was considerable criticism of it, just as there has been from the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland; the Northern Ireland Assembly; the Government; all the political parties on this island; US Congress representatives; Westminster's joint committee on human rights; the Council of Europe and its Commissioner for Human Rights and Council of Ministers; the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; human rights organisations and, most importantly, victims and survivors who have already criticised and condemned it. Why? They have criticised the legislation because it breaches human rights obligations. The European Court of Human Rights requires states to undertake investigations into cases concerning death and serious injury and they must be independent and effective.
Amendments have now been made to the Bill but immunity from prosecution is now on condition of participation in a review of a case. As long as someone gives an account that is true to that person, to the best of his or her knowledge or belief, there is an amnesty. What kind of threshold is that? There are now consequences if people are lying or do not co-operate, but there is absolutely no way of verifying if they are lying and what the truth is. This is window dressing. The commissioner for investigations must now decide in each and every case if there is to be a criminal investigation, if that is judged to be appropriate. It is not independent in the way that the Stormont House Agreement set out. These are disingenuous amendments to a cynical, offensive and self-serving Bill that is about control, protecting the wrong people and cutting off routes to truth and justice.
We have a new Minister for Foreign Affairs. This would be a good opportunity to invite him to the House for a debate. The Taoiseach discussed this issue with the Prime Minister during the week. What is the point of extensive engagement if it is meaningless? Consent is essential. Thus, the Government must consider and prepare for an inter-state case to Europe about this matter.
I will raise an issue with regard to the planning and development Bill 2022. We know the outgoing Attorney General spent approximately 15 months on a very comprehensive review of this legislation. Many of us, because we were elected city and county councillors, know there are considerable issues around Part 8. However, there are also a number of other issues with public engagement outside of the council chamber with regard to planning. I understand from a colleague of mine in the media that there will be a briefing for the invited media to the Custom House this afternoon at 4.30 p.m. on this Bill. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage and was unaware of it. I have made contact with some of the members, who were unaware of it, but I have confirmed this briefing is happening. I have also been in touch with the Minister's office and his private secretary. There is no extension of an invitation. Fair enough, I am not a member of the media, but it is not the way we should be doing our business. I ask the Leader whether we could contact the Department to get a briefing document for all Members of the Seanad. This is important legislation, of which we would all be very conscious with regard to our support base throughout the country. We wish to work collectively with our councils but also with the citizens we represent. I ask simply for a detailed briefing note following the press briefing, this evening or tomorrow morning, with regard to the planning and development Bill 2022.
I welcome the news today from Germany on what seems to be the Chancellor's change of strategy with regard to giving tanks and weapons to Ukraine and allowing other countries to do the same. Germany has been put under considerable pressure with regard to this over the past number of days and weeks, especially from the Baltic countries about showing solidarity and support to Ukraine. It has been quite difficult politically for Germany to do this, but it is important it is done. However, it needs to be done in high numbers, rather than just a token couple of tanks here and there. Ukraine needs a serious amount of weaponry coming into February and training on how to use it.
It is about time we had another serious discussion about supporting our European colleagues, especially in the Baltic region, who decided last week to expel ambassadors from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia because of the treatment the Estonian ambassador in Russia received. It would be a very strong message from a western country such as Ireland to support them by expelling the Russian ambassador here as well. That has been called for numerous times in this House. The argument that was made by the previous Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I suspect will be made by the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, is that we could only do it as part of a European-wide decision rather than unilaterally. Three European countries have now expelled the Russian ambassadors from their countries. We should be supporting those countries and doing the same.
I welcome the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on the support for communities which have taken in Ukrainians. There is a €50 million recognition fund. Every community throughout the country has taken in Ukrainians and supported them, but we should recognise some areas more than others. I am thinking of hubs that have been used. GAA clubs have used hubs. There are examples in County Tipperary. Clonmel soccer club has used the Dr. O'Callaghan centre to take in hundreds of Ukrainians before they move to more permanent residences. Littleton is the same and Fethard was one of the first in the country to do this.
A total of €900,000 of that money is coming to Tipperary. We should prioritise the ones that have done the most in terms of supporting it and Clonmel Soccer Club in the Dr. Pat O'Callaghan Sports Complex is certainly one of them.
I will pick up on Senator Ahearn's point. This fund is very welcome. I would have hoped that there would have been more resources in it, but €2.9 million of that fund is coming to Clare. North-west Clare has thousands of Ukrainian residents, which has put a lot of pressure on some of the sports clubs and community groups and clubs, which have done sterling work in creating integration programmes and supports. It cannot be complicated; the money needs to flow down quickly because it is needed as soon as possible. It is a very welcome fund.
We are back after Christmas. I hope people had a good rest and a good opportunity to unwind and get their energy levels back. One issue that has come to my attention on a number of occasions but particularly recently is the issue of wheelchairs breaking down and requiring maintenance. A broken down wheelchair is like somebody not having a wheelchair. The problem lies in delays at HSE level in terms of responding to maintenance queries and the need for upgrades, new wheelchairs, improved wheelchairs, fixes to wheels and electronics. It is too long for these things to happen and this is causing enormous stress to wheelchair users. I do not know what arrangements the HSE has with private companies, but they need to be reviewed. There needs to be a very fast turnaround when a wheelchair breaks down. The Minister of State with responsibility for disability needs to come to the House in the next few weeks to go through the protocols in the HSE to see how they can be improved. If service level agreements with more companies are needed in order to ensure that young people whose wheelchairs break down are not left for an indefinite and undefined period waiting for the essential equipment they need to live independently, then they should be put in place. I encourage the Leader to see if she can facilitate that as soon as possible.
I know the cost of living causes such stress and that there are so many older people, including older men, who are afraid to turn on the heat because they are worried about the cost. I encourage people to look at the fuel allowance. It is really opening up for people over 70. In addition, the payment of €200 will be made this month and a further €200 will be put into people's accounts in March. This will have an impact. People should know that there are supports and should contact local authorities and the Department of Social Protection where there is a vulnerability or if somebody is in need. I came across a number of cases recently so there are a lot of vulnerable people out there.
Supports are in place for businesses. A number of smaller hospitality businesses unfortunately took the decision to close over Christmas. It is shocking to see the increased costs for businesses. I know the temporary business energy support scheme is there to help but it is important that we look at all measures, including low-cost loans, to help businesses through this period.
We also need to promote tourism. We are very aware that we have received so many Oscar nominations. Yesterday, I asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media about the global invitation programme. How can we promote tourism that will support hospitality and jobs in Ireland? This could be a great time. If the Minister is going to be there congratulating the awardees and, hopefully, successful groups coming through, now is the time to act. Ireland is on the world stage with its landscape, heritage and culture - even through the Irish language film - so now is the time to promote a global invitation programme similar to what was done through The Gathering.
Senator Crowe spoke about the expected increased in the VAT rate for the hospitality sector. It is at 9% and is due to increase to 13% on 28 February. This issue was also raised by Senator Lombard. I acknowledge that businesses are facing significant costs with particular pressure on the hospitality sector because of the number of refugees coming into the country, many of whom are being accommodated in hotels. In addition, the cost of products and materials has gone through the roof. As a result, it is a very challenging time for the hospitality sector as we head into a new tourist season from March onwards. I expect that the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media are looking at this issue together in order to see how to strike the right balance while ensuring that the public purse is looked after in a proper way and that we do not damage one of our most important indigenous industries in which many people are employed. In rural areas in particular, hospitality and the multinationals are the key employers. Those involved are very aware of that issue.
Senator McGahon spoke about the need for dedicated step-down facilities and highlighted particular issues relating to Louth. He has advocated for a proactive and pragmatic approach to dealing with health. He also asked public representatives not to be populist in their approach to this issue and to call for the reopening of a hospital that was brought to a different level many years ago when such a reopening is not a realistic prospect. The Senator asked colleagues across parties to work at finding real solutions. There will be a debate on health, particularly the challenges in hospitals, with the Minister for Health tomorrow and there will be an opportunity to address that issue with the Minister.
Senator Mullen spoke about the changes to the national curriculum regarding sex education. We all agree that they are long overdue. An interesting and very disturbing article in the Sunday Times at the weekend related to where children are getting their sex education. It is not in the classroom and very often not at home. There are challenges in this regard. Some parents do a lot of work in this space while others do not because they do not have the means to do it or feel they cannot and, unfortunately, children are getting that education, if you can even call it that, online. They are getting from pornography on their smartphones and it is causing huge damage. We are seeing an increase in children and young people presenting for mental health assessment and treatment to deal with addiction to porn, a really distorted view of what sex is and what is expected of them as boys and girls, so we need to do something. I appreciate and understand the Senator's point about parents being the ultimate educator but we must also balance that with the right of the child to access education. He is right about this matter. What is objective information and how do we come to that point? That will be a difficult balance to strike, which is why there is a public consultation with parents and schools regarding changes to the curricula at primary and second level. We must strike the right balance but we are not doing properly at the minute - that is for sure - and children are suffering because of it. We need to address that because the industry that has the most access to children is the porn industry and that is evidenced in many aspects of dealing with our children. That work is long overdue but I hope the public consultation will ease the concerns of parents. Ultimately, we must accept that we will never please everybody on this issue but the rights, safety and welfare of the child must come first and how we strike that balance will be a matter for the Minister to do that with the Government, in consultation with schools and parents.
I note the Senator's comments on abortion, the Rotunda and the statistics there. We will probably have more of these debates in the coming months as we proceed towards a review of the abortion legislation and we will always have differing views on whether those services should or should not be provided but I note the Senator's comments and understand and appreciate his perspective knowing his views on this issue.
Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke about the human tissue Bill in the North and Dáithí's Law. It was very welcome this week to see the Minister for Health bring legislation forward to address organ donation in the Republic and to ensure we increase the availability of organs for transplant for those who need those life-changing operations. I would certainly be happy to engage with the Senator in terms of signing that letter to try to expedite or progress the legislation in the North.
Senator Hoey spoke about asylum seekers and the lack of space that has been articulated by the Department. We are in a very challenging space. A huge number not just of Ukrainian refugees but international protection refugees have come to the country and we are struggling to deal with that. Trying to find accommodation is a day-by-day and week-by-week scenario.
The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has done a very good job considering all the circumstances. He has been very honest about what the Department is dealing with. The Minister of State spoke about an interim solution to try to have somewhere for people to go so that they are not on the streets. They are hoping they have line of sight of extra accommodation for February but they are looking at a number of weeks. There is a pinch point. It is worth acknowledging that there are challenges. The Government is not hiding from that but the officials are doing their very best to try to find additional accommodation in what is a very challenging and pressured time for that issue.
Senator Flynn spoke this morning, as she did yesterday, on the rise of hate on the island and the debate around refugees. She made a very interesting point around those who are involved in protests. To paraphrase the Senator, we should not tar everybody with the same brush. People's motivations for being at those protests are varied and not everybody is there for the same reason. She said many of those people are experiencing their own challenges in accessing basic services and accommodation. She said we should acknowledge there are different issues for people.
Senator Mark Daly welcomed the Turkish delegation this morning. I thank him and all the other Senators for their lovely remarks and comments on my own news.
Senator Carrigy spoke this morning about the proposed N4 motorway from Mullingar to Rooskey in County Longford and also about the issue around affordable housing. He asked that affordable housing be made available in all parts of the country, not just in select constituencies and counties. I would certainly agree with the Senator's remarks in that regard.
Senators Dooley and Maria Byrne spoke this morning about the significant and ongoing challenges in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, of which we are all very much aware. As I said, there will be a debate tomorrow with the Minister for Health on that specific issue of accident and emergency departments,
Senator Ward this morning called for a proper compensation package for thalidomide survivors as well as an apology and proper medical support for those who are still dealing with this. It has been an ongoing issue for many years. It should have been sorted a long time ago. I hope the Government is now very close to resolving that particular issue.
Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the issue of housing and welcomed pupils from St. Peter's National School in Phibsborough. She asked for a debate in this House as soon as a proposal to have a referendum on the right to housing is brought to the Cabinet. I will be happy to arrange that when the time is right.
Senator Lombard spoke about the VAT rate and requested a debate on tourism. I have requested that the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, come to the House at the earliest opportunity.
Senator Gallagher spoke about the youth travel card and challenges in terms of covering the cost for students travelling north of the Border. That is something on which the Minister for Transport will have to liaise with his counterpart in the North to try to find a solution. It should not be difficult. It just requires picking up the telephone and trying to find a way of joining forces.
Senator Kyne requested a debate on the capital health plan with both the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I have requested that debate with both Ministers.
Senator Currie spoke very passionately this morning about the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which is going through the House of Lords and is currently at Committee Stage there. On that particular issue, all politicians on the island are united in condemning the passing of that Bill and its contents. It has no support on this island. It is very important that we have Senators like Senator Currie consistently raising that issue and putting it on the record of the House. She is doing fantastic work as a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, as are other colleagues, in keeping that issue live and top of the agenda as it progresses through the process in the UK.
Senator Ahearn welcomed the decision by Germany to provide tanks to Ukraine. He spoke about the issue around the Russian ambassador whereby other countries have moved to expel their ambassadors. That has been an ongoing debate and many colleagues here have expressed a similar view. The Senator also welcomed the €50 million fund from the Department of Social Protection for communities that have welcomed refugees, as did Senator Conway.
Senator Conway also raised the issue around the delay in getting wheelchairs fixed where damage has been done. The HSE is lagging behind on that particular issue.
Finally, Senator Dolan spoke in particular about older people and the cost of living. That is still an ongoing concern for many households, particularly older and more vulnerable members of society. The €200 fuel credit was really welcome. There is more of that to come. Two €200 credits have been issued to bills with a further third instalment to come. The Government has said that it has money in reserve to continue to assess the energy situation and that people will not be found wanting if further assistance is required. The Senator is right about the fuel allowance, however. There is a fairly generous package in place and that has been expanded to cover a lot more households. It is an area in which perhaps we as public representatives can do more in terms of getting the word out to more people. We see a similar issue with the rent credit for which there has been a very low uptake. Approximately 80,000 people have applied for that out of a potential 400,000 eligible tenancies. People are just not aware that they can apply. That is the kind of area where supports are in place but they are not being accessed. We can do a job in getting the word out there.
I thank the Leader. Is the Order of Business agreed? Agreed.
Order of Business agreed to.