Before I call the Leader to outline the business of the day, I welcome the students from Moyle Park College in Clondalkin. They are all very welcome to Leinster House. I hope they have a very good visit and a wonderful day in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I thank them for being here. I call the Leader to outline the Order of Business.
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Order of Business is No. 1, Digital Services Bill 2023 – Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 2.45 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 ten minutes, and time may be shared, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023 – Second Stage, to be taken at 3 p.m. and to conclude at 5 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 ten minutes, and time may be shared, all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 128(7), Private Member's business, motion regarding family carers, to be taken at 5 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.
I welcome the President of the Tynwald, which is the parliament of the Isle of Man, the Honourable Laurence Skelly, to our Distinguished Visitors Gallery. He is in Ireland with a delegation from yesterday until tomorrow. The visit is to engage with Oireachtas committees around the areas of reporting, media, tourism, entrepreneurship and transport. It is wonderful that our friends are here from the Isle of Man. Mr. Skelly was here as recently as last summer with the Ceann Comhairle and me at the Speakers of the Isles conference. There is a continuing link between us and the Tynwald. We are delighted to have all the members of the delegation here today and we wish them a very fruitful and positive engagement. We thank them for the friendship they have bestowed on and shared with all of us here in the Oireachtas. Mr. Skelly is very welcome indeed. I call Senator O'Loughlin.
I add my voice in welcoming our guests from Moyle Park College and the Isle of Man. My home village of Rathangan hosted the Isle of Man delegation for the Special Olympics held in Ireland in 2003. We built up a very strong relationship, so the delegation is incredibly welcome.
I welcome the survey published yesterday on the best towns in the country to live in. Two towns in County Mayo, Ballina and Castlebar, featured, as well as Longford. Newbridge, where I live, was identified as the safest town in Ireland. It is a great town to live in and it is great to see it recognised. I thank the Garda for keeping us safe.
I wish to raise a few issues, mainly concerning different forms of transport, including on the water and also cycling. Cycle Right is the national standard for cycle training. It provides practical cycle safety and skills training for children and is carried out in some schools. I only came across it a few months ago in Scoil Na Naomh Uilig in Newbridge. This is a fantastic programme that shows children how to cycle safely to and from school, as well as in their own leisure time. It is supported by the Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority, RSA. There is, though, an issue with funding in the particular school I was working with on this programme. Unfortunately, it cannot access any funding from Kildare County Council to make it available free of charge to children. This is an extremely important scheme and we should look at it from the perspective of education and transport. I would like the Leader's support in asking that this programme be rolled out to all schools around the country because it is important.
Turning to waterways, I had the opportunity on Monday to visit a barge in Robertstown. County Kildare has two canals passing through it, the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal. Barges were very much a feature of the day when all goods were carried in that fashion. An extremely innovative approach has been taken in Robertstown. The village does not have a community centre, so the community there has restored the barge and it is now serving as the Robertstown community centre. In fact, ukulele classes are held there on a Monday night. The mayor of County Kildare, Daragh Fitzpatrick, held the annual general meeting of Kildare County Council there during the summer as well. It is wonderful work and thanks are owed to Peter Dunne who spearheaded the endeavour. This shows what we can do.
There is also a barge in Athy in County Kildare and this was used by the local community for functions, events and as a tourism project to link in with the Ernest Shackleton Museum. There is concern now that this is not going to happen any longer. We must, therefore, ensure that funding is put in place to support that barge, as well as the blueway and the greenway. We have an opportunity in Rathangan in this regard. The blueway is fantastic. I had the Minister of State down to visit recently. We have plans to put a pedestrian bridge in place, but there is a shortfall in the required funding of €3.5 million. It is vitally needed. We must get this national funding to deliver the project.
I agree with and support the Order of Business for today. I commend Fine Gael, in particular, on its Private Member's motion on family carers. It will be an interesting debate, an active and robust one. I note that my colleague, Senator Tom Clonan, has submitted amendments to the motion, on which I will be speaking.
I hope there will be good attendance in this House for what is a very important matter. I thank Fine Gael for using its Private Members’ time. I look forward to engaging on that later.
Yesterday, I raised the issue of vets. I singled out Rachel Brown, the newly elected president of the Veterinary Council who hails from Ballina in the Leader’s lovely County Mayo. I wish to follow on from that because as a result of it, I received a number of calls about the need to escalate the focus on a new veterinary faculty for Ireland. We know there is enormous pressure for people wanting to train to be vets in Ireland and we know there are more Irish veterinary students in Poland and Hungary than in Ireland. We clearly have an issue with UCD being the only veterinary school in the country, with demand for 85 first year undergraduate places far outstretching supply. We have a challenge and an issue. We also know from statistics provided by UCD that in 2022, there were 581 applications for the course, so there was keen competition for it. The CAO points are in excess of 600. That is enormous. There is a lack of places at graduate entry level and we need to address that. The lack of student places is forcing many students abroad. It is not by choice but they are keen to become veterinary surgeons.
There is huge pressure by the vets to establish a faculty in Munster and I can understand why. I would love to see another faculty in the south, or certainly up near Northern Ireland. I think there are perhaps synergies with Queens University for another faculty of veterinary medicine on the island of Ireland. The Veterinary Council has expressed concerns about the shortage of vets, particularly for large farm animals.
I wish to renew a call for another area, namely, modular, practical, hands-on and academic learning for farm technicians. There is a real opportunity for farm technicians. We do not need veterinary surgeons doing everything. We know with large animal practice that many people who do not or cannot make the grade for various reasons would like to pursue a new, improved syllabus for the term “veterinary technicians”. I call for this again. Clearly, there is a need.
I think the Higher Education Authority has overall responsibility for this area. I ask that the Leader arrange for the Minister, Deputy Harris, or the appropriate Minister responsible for this area to come and have a short debate setting out the Government plans for a new veterinary faculty in Ireland.
I extend my welcome to the group here with the President of Tynwald, the honourable Laurence David Skelly. They are all very welcome to this Chamber.
I rise to ask the Leader a question regarding the schedule of debates in this House. On 14 December, we saw Second Stage of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill. The Bill has completed its passage through the Dáil but we have only seen Second Stage. When will we see the Remaining Stages in this House? I am receiving very disturbing messages, photographs and videos of people being harassed as they go into avail of services in hospitals and it is absolutely not acceptable. We cannot afford any delays. I am mindful that tomorrow is 1 February and it will soon be two months after Second Stage. We need that scheduled as a matter of urgency.
In my remaining time, I wish to address what happened during Commencement matters today and the fact that the House had to be suspended. The House had to be suspended because Senator Clonan tabled an absolutely excellent Commencement matter, one which he and all of us across the House have repeatedly raised. A junior Minister from housing came to address an issue on health, which is a consistent pattern in this House. Any of us who have tabled a Commencement matter for the Department of Health will get an email the morning of it stating “No Minister is available. Apologies. This is the Minister who will deal with the issue.” Apart from the fact the substantive issue Senator Clonan was raising was an absolute disgrace and it is an outrage that children’s issues are not being addressed - I will go further on that this evening in the Fine Gael motion for the House - but the fact that we are not even accorded the respect for someone from the Department of Health to come in and address health issues is a disgrace. It is a consistent pattern. It is disrespectful to this House, it is disrespectful to the Members of this House and disrespectful to the very serious issues raised by Members of this House addressing children on waiting lists, carers left without any care or support and people imprisoned in their homes in desperate situations with a HSE that is not answerable to anyone for anything.
It is time we had a Minister address us. I understand there is a challenge when the junior Minister is also the Government Chief Whip. I understand all of that. However, we are the Government. Can we not sit down and work out a solution to that other than sending in people who are unable to respond to the issues being raised? Senator Clonan was absolutely right to protest. As a House, it is time we start doing that on a repetitive basis until such time that what we say here is actually listened to.
I will address the matter at the end of the Order of Business.
I will try to whiz through things. I wish to briefly mention the UNRWA funding and a number of countries' withdrawal of it. I understand the accusations made towards UNRWA. However, it has provided flour to 3,482 families outside of shelters since November 2023, combatting what many international organisations call emerging starvation, looming famine and outbreak of disease. It supports 5.7 million refugees in the Middle East and 1.7 million internally displaced Palestinians, hundreds of whom have been killed. Those numbers are telling a devastating reality in Gaza and highlight the importance of UNRWA on the ground. It is horrific that the major states are still choosing to suspend that funding, which will cause the elimination of all the activities carried out by UNRWA by the end of February. I note the Taoiseach and others have made comments that there are no immediate plans to withdraw our funding, but I hope Ireland urges other UN member states to follow our example and continue to support the organisation as is, seeing as it is a lifeline for the Palestinian population. It is providing basic necessities such as shelter, water, food and healthcare to 2.3 million people despite the fact that 150 of their employees have been killed. I wanted to put that on the record.
I wish to highlight another matter. We hear much talk about referenda and voter registration and the deadline for that is Tuesday, 20 February. There have been all sorts of changes around the voter registration process, which have been very welcome. I am not sure whether we could discuss the following, or whether Leader could raise it with her sister parties in government, but a number of youth organisations, such as the Union of Students in Ireland, Labour Youth and others, have pointed out that the local elections are on the first Friday of the leaving certificate. They are calling for it to be changed, so that young people would be able to vote, and that there would be a recognition that it is during the leaving certificate. The dates have not been finalised but the USI, Labour Youth, the Young Greens and a number of organisations are concerned that this clash with the leaving certificate may hinder young people from participating in the electoral process. The last two local and European elections were held in May, so there was not any question of them being held in the middle of the examinations. I echo their calls. Perhaps other people here will engage on that. I do not know if Saturday voting is possible, but it is concerning that it is in the middle of the leaving certificate.
At last, we have a breakthrough in the negotiations in the North of Ireland and we all expect the Assembly will elect a new Executive before the 8 February deadline. That will mean Northern institutions will be back up and running. There will be a fully functioning Assembly and an Executive, as well as the full operation of the Good Friday Agreement. The democratic outcome of the Assembly elections in 2022 will at last be respected. Thankfully, the DUP has moved to explicitly recognise and respect the outcome of that election.
This has been a long time coming, but I am delighted for Michelle O'Neill, who can now really fulfil her promise to be a First Minister for all. She has been a hugely popular designated First Minister. She has given us a sense of what really can be achieved in that office as First Minister. She is a real people person. It was an absolute joy to march with her on the streets of this city for Dublin Pride last year.
In all seriousness, this is a hugely significant moment. It is the first time we have had a Sinn Féin First Minister in the North, and she is the first nationalist First Minister as well. I think that is representative of the seismic shift on our island and in the North of Ireland as well. It will take a good bit of hard work and real leadership from all the parties to help the people of the North to deal with the day-to-day challenges they now face, which have as we know been severely worsened by the absence of a government. The rising cost of living can now be addressed. The challenges in public services can be prioritised. Reconciliation between the people in the North and across this island can be maximised.
For those of us who advocate for constitutional change, the full working of the Good Friday Agreement offers the roadmap to peaceful and consensual constitutional change. Do we continue to support the union with Britain, or do we support a sovereign, united Ireland? We welcome the news. We look forward to the events over the next week or two. When the Speaker is elected to the Northern Assembly, the Cathaoirleach might extend our best wishes to him on behalf of this House.
I also want to join with my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney. Many of us were watching the screens in our own offices and were absolutely stunned by the treatment of Senator Clonan. Children who have a disability deserve to be treated like any other child or citizen of our country, whether this is in relation to getting services from the HSE or having their representative table a question in the Dáil or a Commencement matter in the Seanad. I was shocked that Senator Clonan was threatened with having to leave the House. He is not a lone ranger. He has support from across the House for his hard work and advocacy for children with disabilities. In this case, he was discussing children with scoliosis who are waiting for surgeries and those who have been left permanently paralysed. It is a really important issue. Obviously, the Minister sometimes has issues with his diary. However, I am asking the Leader to ensure there is a debate in this House on the treatment of scoliosis and the waiting list, because it is so severe. We are really lucky in this House to have a Senator like Senator Clonan, who is fighting for our children with disabilities.
I came to the House today to discuss an issue I read about this morning, namely, the really concerning use of AI. I read about a colleague down under, Georgie Purcell, whose breasts were increased by AI and the image was used on national television. This sort of editing is massively undermining of this colleague’s work. It is a new low for democracy and women and a modern political democracy. I was disgusted for her that this was allowed to happen. In Ireland over the next few months, we are facing an important referendum to widen the scope of families and carers, as well as local and European elections. There are dozens of challenges to democracies around the world in various countries. The proliferation of the use of AI as a tool for political disinformation is real and it is worrying. We must do everything we can to ensure the accurate and truthful depiction of information is published online. I welcome the EU legislation published earlier this year in the form of the AI Act to regulate AI. I support my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, in his call for Ireland to seek to host the EU office for the regulation of AI. I want to stress that I do not think we can wait for this legislation to be enacted before we commence an aggressive public information campaign about disinformation, AI-generated fake rumour-bombing and other sinister tools, thereby dismantling untruths. We need to teach the public to challenge and question everything they see online when they are in the safety of their own homes and are scrolling online. Our failure to challenge and question online discourse leaves us as sitting ducks and has the potential to destroy our hard-won, very young democracy.
I welcome Mr. Paul Keane, consul general of Sweden, and the delegation to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. You are very welcome to Leinster House today, and I hope you have a very enjoyable and beneficial visit. Céad míle fáilte romhaibh go léir. Anois, an Seanadóir Kyne.
I would like to acknowledge and welcome the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, this week of the double payments for January on behalf of the Government to pensioners, carers, lone parents and people with disabilities. Some 66,287 people, approximately, in Galway will benefit from these double payments this week. The January cost-of-living double payment will benefit 1.3 million people nationally to the tune of €342 million in additional expenditure. This will help to ease the cost-of-living pressures that undoubtedly every person and family is experiencing. We have seen over the last two and a half years unprecedented national supports to assist people with cost-of-living pressures. As I have said before, we are able to do these things because they are necessary and because of the stewardship over the economy. We have a strong economy with additional revenues, so we are able to assist people. It is important to put all that on the record. I also welcome the welfare increases from budget 2024 that are kicking in. They will assist families and people across the country. Pensioners, carers, lone parents and people with disabilities will receive this automatic payment. As I said, some 66,287 people in Galway will benefit from this additional Government expenditure.
I want to say in respect of the appearance here today by the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, that he stayed in his seat as a courtesy to the House. It was not the case that he was sent in to deal with a matter on which he had no expertise. Senator Clonan was rightly outraged that the Government effectively tried to get him to pull the debate and did not even arrange to send somebody else in. It was simply proposing to leave that seat empty. The Cathaoirleach may deal with that, but I want to put on record my solidarity with Senator Clonan. I also raise the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, was acting as a gentleman and was acting in courtesy to this House.
I will raise one thing about today, which is a day on which the institutions in Northern Ireland are to be up and running again. I welcome that unequivocally. I am delighted that the institutions are to be up and running and that the Good Friday Agreement is to be operated as was envisaged by the people who voted for it. What I want to say is that reconciliation is needed in Northern Ireland between the kind of people who want a united Ireland, including myself, and those who do not. The political system up there requires generosity and mindfulness of the position of others who disagree with the concept of a united Ireland. In that context, I have a comment that I hope Senators Warfield and Gavan will not take amiss. To say that a united Ireland is now within touching distance is very insensitive to the two thirds of people in Northern Ireland-----
Hear, hear.
-----who, according to opinion polls, say they would vote “No” if they were asked the question. It destabilises the debate, rather than reinforcing it. I aspire to a united Ireland. I consider myself an Irish republican, like most Members of this House, I presume. However, to simply announce that we are now within touching distance of a united Ireland flies in the face of the fact that a significant majority of people in Northern Ireland have the right to say “No”, and would say “No”, if the matter was put to a vote.
I want to echo the sentiments expressed by Senator McDowell. Quite frankly, I was taken aback yesterday by the comments that were made by Deputy McDonald. I think Michelle O'Neill showed great insight and understanding of the situation, but the minute Deputy McDonald was asked about it, it was all about Sinn Féin and about what a great opportunity this would be for Sinn Féin, rather than the people they seek to represent up there. It seems to me that when they are just about to reach a consensus, the old triumphalism has come to the fore. I think we have learned our lesson around that. I, as much as anybody, want to see a united Ireland, but it will have to be in a different format from that which was expressed by people in that organisation. It cannot be just about the winner taking it all. I have to say, when you juxtaposed the two leaders side by side, it did not work, quite frankly.
Michelle O'Neill was clearly understanding and understands the issue.
My original intention today was to ask for a debate at the earliest opportunity on the crisis that exists for small to medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, particularly in the service sector. I have raised in the House on countless occasions the issue of small businesses that are impacted as a result of the loss of tourism beds because of the way in which we have had to manage migration. There are villages and towns that were tourist attractions and that are now housing migrants that have had to come to this country. I understand fully why that has happened, but it has had a very significant impact on small businesses in the area that would have depended on the tourists to operate their businesses and to provide an income for their families and for the people they employ. That is one sector that has not been dealt with and was not dealt with in the budget.
The other small businesses in towns and villages and in large cities are impacted because of the increased cost of business and there are no supports for them. We are seeing restaurants and small businesses closing. We are going to have to take a more comprehensive approach to the State's relationship with the private sector than just through the prism of IBEC and the large multinationals. I would welcome a debate in the House at the earliest opportunity on that particular issue.
I call for a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage or the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, on housing adaptation grants. I tabled a Commencement matter on this issue last year and I was told that a review of the three grants, the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities, the mobility aid grant and the housing aid for older people grant, was under way. I understand that review is well completed now. What I asked at that time and what I am still asking is that the grant amounts be increased and the criteria in the means test widened. We want to ensure more people with disabilities and older persons are able to remain in their home for longer. We all know that with construction inflation over recent years, those grants are not going as far as they once did, especially the mobility aid grant for €6,000, which is often used for the adaptation of a downstairs bathroom for an older person. To get that job done now costs considerably more. Families are having to put quite a bit of money into it along with the grant aid that is available. I was assured that review was under way. We really need to see it implemented. It is not just a case of increasing the grant amounts. We have to see the allocation to local authorities increasing in tandem with that. We do not want just to see a higher grant amount and fewer people getting it. We want to see a higher grant amount and more people able to avail of it. I ask for that debate as early as possible.
Today is 31 January. This day in 1984 is one that I and, indeed, the people that knew and loved Ann Lovett and the community of Granard will never forget. It is much talked about in the media today because it is the 40th anniversary. I saw a comment on X this morning from the National Women's Council, once again using Ann's death as some sort of political football. I do not think anybody can ever understand the pain, hurt and trauma the people that loved and knew Ann and the community of Granard have suffered. It is interesting that none of the media could find anybody in Granard to talk to in recent weeks when the anniversary was coming upon us.
This is the time to let Ann and her baby, and her sister, Patricia, who took her own life three months later, rest. I will always hold her close in my heart. It is the last time I will mention her in the Chamber because I believe it is time. It is time to let her go. I ask the media, and all the groups that feel Ann Lovett's name can be taken as some sort of political football to further their cause, to stop. Let Ann rest in peace and let this be the last day. Let us try to heal from the awful tragedy that happened on this day in January 1984.
I am not going to get involved in what Senator Keogan said, but I remind everybody that Ann Lovett still has very close family members alive and living in this country.
I want to spend a few minutes paying tribute to the former Fine Gael TD, Senator and councillor, John Connor, from Roscommon. I understand tributes were paid yesterday, but I was not available at the time. John Connor was an excellent politician, a fantastic orator and a highly intelligent man. He represented his county and his region with dignity. He was a very witty character as well. One only has to look at the number of tributes on rip.ie from across the political spectrum to see how well liked he was.
Just a few weeks before Christmas, I actually bumped into him outside Mitchell's post office in Frenchpark village and he was in good form. Initially, I was rushing to something else and I was not going to go down the street to talk to him, but now I am glad I did because it was the last conversation I had with him. He will be well remembered for the way he represented people. Yes, he was a great man for the political cut and thrust, but he was deeply respectful to all his colleagues as well. May he rest in peace.
Senator Hoey brought up the issue of funding for Gaza. I had to look to see where she was because I could not see her over there. I am glad she has come to this side of the House.
I am behind you.
I fully support what she said. I think it is very important that funding is not cut. I admire the Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, who very quickly decided not go with some other countries on this. The unfortunate situation that many of those Palestinians are in at the moment is breaking our hearts. If the funding were to be cut now, it would make that situation twice as bad. I support the Senator's comments.
I support the comments made by Senator Keogan. It is my home area, so I think she is right in saying we should let Ann, Patricia and all the family rest in peace.
The survey of the top ten towns in Ireland from a work-life balance perspective was mentioned earlier. I note the top two towns on the list are Castlebar and Ballina in County Mayo. Third on the list is Longford, in my home county. We get knocked in the press too often, to be quite honest. Even our own local media have been knocking our county town, in particular, for a number of years. A huge amount of work has been done by a large number of organisations in the town and county to improve it. That is what they have done. Our local authority, of which I was a member for many years, has been very proactive in seeking Government funding and supports for projects in the town to improve quality of life and the work-life balance we have in our county town. Sporting organisations have invested in facilities. We have our transport infrastructure, with trains and buses, but we need the N4. It is going to have to be a priority to ensure funding is put in place for the Mullingar to Roosky route to make sure we can access our capital. That we came third on the list shows the good work that has been done by those organisations and the local authority is paying dividends. As I said, we have a fantastic work-life balance in Longford and it is great to see it acknowledged.
I was at the Chamber door at the end of Commencement matters and, to be honest, it is a disgrace there was no reply to Senator Clonan on his Commencement matter. We are elected to represent the people and we are entitled to get answers when we ask for them from Government or the relevant Department. It is disrespectful to me, to us as Members and, ultimately, to the people that a reply was not given to what was a very important ask on the Senator's behalf, on behalf of his own son and more than 150 youngsters and, ultimately, on behalf of children throughout the country with disabilities. I hope an answer will be forthcoming. Whoever made that decision needs to be removed from their role. It is not acceptable.
Yesterday, I brought up the issue of hate crime legislation and asked where that legislation is now.
I and other members of ethic minority groups, as well as LGBTQI+ communities and disabled people, believe this legislation is extremely important. Sadly, it is evidently required in society. I again call for a date to be set for Committee Stage of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022. I ask the Leader to make it a priority to write to the Clerk of the Seanad in that regard. This hate crime legislation is a priority for all Members of this House and we should be able to debate it on Committee Stage. I am seeking a commitment that the House will take Committee Stage of the Bill within the next two or three months.
I, too, express my solidarity with Senator Clonan. When we ask a question in this House, we expect it to be answered properly, at least, but also by a Minister in the line Department. The situation this morning was uncalled for.
I wish to raise a separate health issue. I am calling for a debate on GP shortages. Last year, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, increased the number of GP training places by 35% compared with the previous year. That is a record increase, but it is clear many people want to get into GP care. This year, 1,300 medical graduates applied for 350 places, which shows there is an appetite to train as a GP. All Members, be they from rural or urban communities, know how difficult it is to get timely access to a GP . I am calling for a debate on the matter and for the House to be updated on what the Department of Health is doing to increase the number of GP training places for 2024, as well as the long-term plan in terms of population surveys and the allocation of GPs on a per capita basis. Those updates would be very welcome. Members would value a debate on the issue.
I call Senator Gavan. My apologies for not calling on him in the first round.
Not at all, a Chathaoirligh, you are the finest.
With regard to the Commencement matter this morning, I, like all Members, put on record my solidarity with Senator Clonan. On countless occasions, Deputy Quinlivan and I have tried to get answers in respect of University Hospital Limerick and the trolley crisis there, but we are yet to have a line Minister come to the House to deal with a Commencement matter on that issue. It is incredibly frustrating and it is disrespectful to the House. I know the Cathaoirleach will address the matter at the conclusion of the Order of Business. I look forward to his comments.
I wish to raise the issue of air policy across Ireland. On the "Morning Ireland" radio programme this morning, a defence for the further expansion of Dublin Airport was put forward. That defence amounted to the fact that 31% of the population live in the greater Dublin area. The point is that 85% of flights leaving the State do so from Dublin. We know there is significant underused capacity in Shannon and Cork airports as well as Kerry Airport and Ireland West Airport Knock. I do not understand why there has been no attempt to address the issue of massive regional imbalance in aviation policy in the four years the Government has been in place. There is significant capacity and potential at Shannon and Cork airports, both of which are on the rise at the moment, but the Government still seems hell bent on letting the market rip and placing Dublin Airport in direct competition with Shannon Airport. On an island as small as Ireland, that simply makes no sense. I am calling for an urgent debate on the issue. Surely the Minister has to address the issue in the lifetime of this Government. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has not been focused on it at all to date. We need greater opportunities for growth at Shannon and Cork airports as well as much greater balance in terms of future aviation policy, but these are sorely lacking from this Government. I am calling for an urgent debate on the matter.
I welcome to the Visitors Gallery the family of our colleague and friend, Senator Mary Seery Kearney. I formally and cordially welcome Michael, Leo and Carmel Seery. They are all very welcome to Leinster House. They can be justifiably proud of Mary, who is doing a fine job on their behalf and all our behalf. I thank them for being here and hope they have an enjoyable day. I will not give them homework off but I hope they have a pleasant visit.
I hope Senator Ahearn will forgive me but Castlebar, the home of my mother, was noted today as the best town in Ireland for work-life balance. As a west of Ireland man, I am delighted to note there is such a place outside County Tipperary, although I am sorry to have to inform Senator Ahearn of that fact.
The referendums that will take place on 8 March are causing me a great deal of concern. I refer to the misinformation that is being put out. For example, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is on record in The Irish Times as saying that if we vote "No", women's career and employment opportunities will be limited. The National Women's Council of Ireland has stated that an oppressive Government would see women confined to the home and their careers and employment prospects limited. This is not good enough. We must abide by the McKenna judgment. Is the Government usurping the McKenna judgment by using NGOs to put out the message for a "Yes" vote? We need clear and honest information. As regards Article 41.1.1°, it is clear that if the amendment is passed, marriage will be given a place different from that given to those in a durable relationship.
I do not wish to interrupt the Senator but we had a debate last week on the referendum.
I am aware of that.
This is the Order of Business. On what specific issue is the Senator seeking a debate?
I am seeking a debate on the McKenna judgment being respected by both Houses and any other agency funded by the State.
Hear, hear.
We have an obligation to tell the truth. As I stated, Article 41.1.1° places marriage on a different bar or level from a durable relationship. It is there in black and white for everybody to see. Article 42B offers no practical support for families with disabled people. What happened here during Commencement matters this morning is outrageous and indicative of the way this House is treated by the Government all the time.
The Senator's last comment is not accurate. I will comment at the end of the Order of Business but, to be fair to Ministers, in the main we have seen an increase in the number of Cabinet Ministers here for Commencement matters. I will address it at the end of the Order of Business. It is misinformation.
I thank Senator Murphy for his comments in respect of John Connor.
I wish to raise the issue of flooding. In Roscommon, there is a particular issue relating to the rising waters of Lough Funshinagh. We need to discuss flood measures and flood alleviation projects and how we can accelerate them, as well as what can be done in respect of areas within a special area of conservation, SAC. That will require different Departments speaking to each other. Under Natura 2000, there are 75 recognised turloughs in the European Union. Of those, 45 are in Ireland, with the remainder spread throughout Germany and Slovenia. The majority of Ireland's 45 turloughs are in the likes of Roscommon, Galway, Clare and elsewhere on the western seaboard, which is a limestone and karst region. These are all designated special areas of conservation. A turlough is a disappearing lake. The water is supposed to come from a subterranean source and then disappear after a number of months. The issue is that has not happened for many years at Lough Funshinagh. I do not know whether the likes of Lough Funshinagh can even be defined as a turlough anymore. I have a question regarding the designation of SACs and, in particular, the designation when a turlough no longer meets the criteria for or scientific definition of a turlough. What can be done in such cases? The water level at Lough Funshinagh is currently raised and the land, biodiversity and trees around it are all flooded. My question relates to the redesignation of SACs, flood relief projects and the Government's plan for managing this issue.
I begin by echoing the concerns expressed by my colleague Senator Ardagh. The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act will probably be the most significant legislation enacted this decade.
It is the world's first comprehensive law on AI. I know we had a Commencement debate on this, but things are moving quite quickly. This week, the German Government agreed to support the new AI Act. It has been signalled as a priority for a number of EU member states. The Leader will be aware that I have been seeking a select or special committee on AI in these Houses.
Given the pace at which change is happening within this space, however, it is important for us to be informed as to our Government's approach to the AI Act and, indeed, the impact of this regulation, how innovation will continue to be fostered and how the necessary guard rails will be put in place. The Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, has been doing an awful lot of good work in this space, but it might be appropriate for the House to be informed of the progress concerning the AI Act, which will be agreed during the mandate of this commission.
I was going to raise the question of the referendum, but not those in March, rather the referendum on the unified patent system that will be happening in June, which, it is fair to say, is not generating the same level of excitement perhaps as the referendums in March. It is important, however, given that this will be a single patent court system for member states. It is critical for innovators, inventors and creators and business that we have a debate in this House. I am conscious there will be a debate on the legislation for the referendum. The particular fear I have, however, is that as it will be conducted alongside the European elections and become a debate about something completely different from the actual context of the referendum. I ask that because of the importance of Ireland's membership of the unified patent system, we join the 17 members that have already joined and that this take place as soon as possible.
Senator Byrne is followed by Senator Byrne.
I thank the Cathaoirleach very much indeed. I rise today to speak about the fact that I have been contacted by so many small businesses. The months of January and February are a very lean time for businesses. There is much concern out there, especially with businesses in the hospitality trade. There are an awful lot of extra costs be it the minimum wage, the sick pay scheme or auto-enrolment. Many things happen together in January. Businesses are finding it really tough.
I know the Government planned on putting a business relief scheme in place. I would like the Minister to come into the Chamber explain that because people are not aware of what is out there or of grants they can access. Certainly, it is something we should debate. It is important. While the Government is doing the right thing in terms of the minimum wage, etc., it is just that business owners cannot sustain it all happening at one time. I believe that into the future it should be on a staggered basis. Not all the costs should be inflicted on the employer, especially the smaller employers because they are the ones who are finding this the hardest. Certainly, small businesses have had much to contend with given what happened with Covid-19 and so on. They are only getting back on their feet and now these extra costs have been placed upon them all starting from the month of January. We have to have a proper debate about what can happen and what supports we can actually give to businesses going forward. It is really important to get that out there for businesses to survive.
I thank all my colleagues this morning for their expressions of support and solidarity. It is very much appreciated. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, who was here for a different Commencement matter this morning but out of decency and courtesy sat and listened and had to hear me give out.
I want to raise the issue of Mr. David Dignan, who is a 39-year-old man from Moate in Westmeath. He had a motorcycle accident in 2019 when he was driving over to see his mother and was very seriously injured. He acquired a brain injury and catastrophic injuries to his left arm, which has since been amputated. He is awaiting the fitting of a prosthetic robotic arm. Unfortunately, he was a commercial diver before this accident happened. He is now unable to make a living and relies on disability allowance. One simple thing is that he needs a car to be able to get around. Because of the rules that are in place, which are 60 years old, he does not qualify for the disabled drivers tax relief scheme. The rules were drawn up 60 years ago and have not been updated since then. In fact, many of the members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal resigned in protest at this last year. He is appealing, as am I, that those criteria be updated to reflect how we live in the 21st century. The loss of one arm is sufficient grounds to be considered a disabled driver. I do not think people are going to try to exploit the scheme because they have lost an arm. It is a really bizarre and arbitrary rule and it is very unfair to David Dignan and his family. I ask that we move this forward in some way either by way of debate or by raising it with the relevant Minister.
I was not here yesterday and did not get the opportunity to express my condolences on the death of former Senator and TD, John Connor, and I want to do that. He was elected to the Dáil on the same day as my mother and they were great friends over the years. He fluctuated between the Dáil and the Seanad, which is a real sign of someone who is well liked outside of these walls but also inside them. I wish to offer his family and friends and supporters at home my condolences.
I ask that we have a debate with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, about projects that are meant to be delivered and things that are meant to be done by Irish Water that have not been done. One relates to my home village in Grange. There is a community just outside the village of Grange called Knocklofty where people are constantly losing water pressure and water supply. I met a number of them last week and they were telling me stories of difficulties they were having. Essentially, what is happening is that the water supply is coming from the Ardfinnan water supply. At night, Irish Water decides to shut that down to preserve water so the amount of water in the reservoir increases. Then, it comes back at 7 o'clock in the morning. However, because of where Knocklofty is, on top of a very steep hill, it comes back extremely slowly. It does not come back until 3 o'clock or 4 o'clock in the evening for people at the top of the hill, which essentially means they are out of water for the whole day. There are outages and disruptions throughout the year. It is constantly happening to the point that some families have now gotten tanks put in themselves so that they have a water supply for 48 hours in case it goes out. Even those houses have had outages five or six times in the past year and they have a tank to keep them going for 48 hours, which means Irish Water has been out for well over 48 hours in that area. People have to drive 5 miles into Clonmel simply to go to the toilet. There are people there who have medical issues who need support and need water. It is a basic need. It does not cost a lot to fix the problem for the community of Knocklofty. They have not been as vocal as they could have been with all the challenges they have had to deal with. I ask that something be done by Irish Water to support the community of Knocklofty so they can have the basic essential of a water supply through the day.
I thank the Senator. Before I call the Leader, I will make a couple of points. I welcome Deputy Sherlock to the Seanad. He is joined by a good friend of all of ours, Mr. Ronan Farren, and Mr. Art O'Neill. They are very welcome. Deputy Brady is also here with a guest. They are all welcome to Leinster House today. Go raibh maith agaibh.
The issue of this morning's Commencement matters was addressed during the Order of Business. I will outline to the Members that I, as Cathaoirleach, selected the issue raised by Senator Clonan to be taken as a Commencement matter. I understand the Department of Health contacted Senator Clonan late last night with a view to the withdrawal of the matter so that it could be taken on another day. The scheduling of Commencement matters for any particular day is not determined by a Department or, indeed, Senators. It is the prerogative of the Cathaoirleach of the day. In my case, it is my responsibility to pick and select four matters. Yesterday, 12 matters were submitted by Members for today. I selected the Commencement matter of Senator Clonan because it was a matter of importance to me. I ruled that my selection should stand so that it could proceed. I am disappointed that the matter was not responded to and I will, as I have done in the past, write to the Minister and the Department to express my concerns. More generally, I would like to add that the withdrawal of a Commencement matter leaves vacant a slot that could be used by another Senator.
I am strongly of the view that the matters selected by the Cathaoirleach of the day, whoever that might be, should proceed unless there are exceptional circumstances justifying withdrawal. The Department of Health did not communicate with me or with my office about the withdrawal. I take the view, and will continue to take the view, that it is a matter for the Department relevant to the Commencement matter selected to have a Minister or Minister of State on front bench duty here to take the matter. I now call on the Leader to respond to the Order of Business.
Well said.
As the Cathaoirleach has dealt with the question of Commencement matters, I do not propose to. It is not a matter for the Leader of the House but one for the Cathaoirleach's office.
I thank all Members for their contributions on the Order of Business today. First up was Senator O'Loughlin. She spoke first about the survey released this morning that said Castlebar was the best town in Ireland for work-life balance and quality of life, which I was obviously delighted to see. We will take the good news when it comes. A second Mayo town, Ballina, came second. As Senator Carrigy pointed out, Longford came third and Newbridge in County Kildare was cited as Ireland's safest town. That is some good news. It is nice to see some of the smaller rural towns across the country get the recognition they deserve. Well done to those towns. That probably links into what happened during the pandemic and flexible working. People are looking to smaller towns. That is just part of the new way of doing things. When the different towns across the country were being assessed, issues like access to primary school places, broadband, amenities, leisure centres and house prices were considered. These are all the different things we value and that contribute to a good quality of life. Well done to those towns.
Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the Cycle Right training that is available to children across the country. There is a cost associated with that but she would like to see it rolled out across all schools in the country to encourage students to cycle to and from school. She also raised an issue around waterways and a particular issue regarding a pedestrian bridge and signage along the blueway in Rathangan that will require €3.5 million to deliver. I would like to see that delivered.
Senator Boyhan spoke about the family carers debate that will happen later on. He welcomed the debate and thanked Fine Gael for using its Private Members' slot to facilitate such an important debate. He also congratulated the newly elected president of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, Rachel Brown, who is from Ballina in County Mayo. I wish her well in her term. The Senator also called for a new veterinary school in the country to facilitate more people training and for more opportunities for farm technicians to train. I support those calls. We would love to see more people getting an opportunity to study and work in Ireland.
Quite a number of Members raised the issue of this morning's Commencement matter. The Cathaoirleach has adequately dealt with that issue.
Senator Seery Kearney has asked for an update on the safe access zones legislation. We had contact from the Department of Health just last week with a view to scheduling it. It will be scheduled in the month of February. I am sorry; the Senator is sitting there. I thought she had left the Chamber. The reason the Bill was not scheduled towards the end of the last term is that we had the Bills on vaping and human tissue. There was a lot of legislation coming from the Department. It was just a question of scheduling and timing. This House has had no issue with scheduling the legislation. When time is requested, such requests are facilitated. We will have that debate pretty soon in the coming weeks.
Senators Hoey and Murphy raised the issue of some countries' withdrawal of funding for the UNRWA. That is really regrettable. I am delighted and proud that Ireland's position on this was very strong. The Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, was very clear that, while he wanted to see those who were potentially involved in the 7 October attacks brought to justice and while sanctions would be imposed, Ireland would not be withdrawing funding and would continue to fund that vital aid service that supports so many Palestinians in Gaza at an extraordinarily difficult time. Words do not really cover what is happening there. We all accept that.
I take on board the point Senator Hoey made about the referendums. The date for the local elections has not been set yet but we are obviously looking at those days. I take on board the points the Senator has raised in that regard.
Senator Warfield spoke about the breakthrough in Northern Ireland, as did Senator McDowell. It is really welcome to see that, after two years of not having a functioning Assembly or Executive in the North, we have finally had a breakthrough and that the parties, particularly the DUP and Sinn Féin, are coming together and going back to power-sharing. That is really important. I take on board that Senator Dooley raised, along with Senator McDowell, the need to avoid being too triumphant and to be sensitive of the views and emotions of other people and other communities as we try to get things back up and running. We need to see politics functioning in the North. I recently visited the Northern Ireland Executive's office in Brussels. That was a big gap as regards services as there are no ministers in Northern Ireland, which is really impacting on the people on the ground. I wish those involved well. It is great to see that breakthrough.
Senator Ardagh spoke about children with disabilities and their need for services. She also asked for a debate on scoliosis, which we will request from the Department of Health. She also raised the issue of the use of AI. She pointed to the story of Georgie Purcell that broke in Australia recently in particular. It was really shocking to see that a Member of Parliament had her image altered by AI to make her breasts bigger and to reduce the size of her clothing to expose more skin. It is quite shocking that something like that would happen in a developed democracy in this day and age. I commend Ms Purcell on her very dignified response.
Hear, hear.
She called it out. Senator Kyne welcomed the double payment for pensioners, lone parents and people accessing disability payments that is coming through this month. This is in line with the cost-of-living measures introduced by the Government in the last budget to support people with continuing cost-of-living pressures.
As I said, Senator McDowell spoke about the Northern Ireland institutions and the need to acknowledge that any suggestion that a united Ireland is within touching distance upsets many people in the North. While I assume everybody in this House wants to see a united Ireland, it has to be done in the right way. Communities must be brought together. It is important that we are uniting people as opposed to uniting the landmass.
Senator Dooley asked for a debate on the crisis in the SME sector. Senator Maria Byrne also raised that particular issue. There is no doubt but that those in the tourism and hospitality sector are under pressure, as are those in the retail sector. There has been a lot of change for business, all of it for the right reasons, but it has come together at the same time and it is putting pressure on small businesses. On top of that, bed nights have been taken out as a result of beds being used to accommodate refugees. That is putting great pressure on rural businesses that rely on that footfall. I will request a debate with the Minister for enterprise at the earliest opportunity.
Senator Cummins asked for a debate on housing and housing adaptation grants in light of inflation in that sector. I will request that debate.
Senator Keogan spoke about Ann Lovett's anniversary, which is today. The date was 31 January 1984. I take on board the points that she and Senators Murphy and Carrigy have raised as to the need to be respectful and mindful of the family members connected to the issue. I will say no more on that but I note the Senators' comments.
Senator Murphy spoke about the passing of John Connor, a former Fine Gael politician in Roscommon, as did Senators Dolan and Ahearn. I concur with all Senators' remarks in that regard and offer my condolences to his family, community, friends and political party. He led a life of service to the public. He clearly left a strong mark on his colleagues and his community. May he rest in peace.
Senator Carrigy drew our attention to Longford coming third in the Switcher.ie survey. I agree with the Senator's remarks.
Senator Flynn asked for an update on the hate crime legislation. It is the prerogative of Departments to request time for debates on legislation. As it stands, I have not yet been requested to schedule debate on that legislation. We will certainly schedule it when the request comes from the Department.
Senator McGreehan spoke about the issue of GP shortages and requested a debate on the matter, which I will request.
Senator Gavan spoke about aviation policy and the 85% of flights that go out of Dublin Airport. I disagree with his statement that no effort has been made as regards regional balance and our regional airports. There is annual funding for regional airports. Knock Airport has got approximately €6 million in the last 12 months. That is significant funding for the airport. The likes of Shannon and Knock are doing a very good job in attracting customers to their airports and people want to take flights out of those airports. Dublin is the capital so airlines often look to it first. That is not a result of Government policy. It is just that it is where airlines tend to go first. However, I would love to see more flights out of Knock, Shannon and other airports across the country.
The Leader might include Cork as well.
Of course, Cork is our second biggest airport. People are voting with their feet. We have seen an increase in passenger numbers out of all of those airports, Cork, Shannon and Knock, because people like flying out of them. Demand drives where airlines look to schedule flights. It is a little bit of a chicken-and-egg scenario.
The airports in question are doing such a good job that they are attracting additional business. Government funding to the regional airports, including Cork and Shannon, has been really welcome. It is part of the Government's ongoing commitment to have better regional balance in aviation policy. I will request a debate with the transport Minister on that.
Senator Craughwell spoke about how Castlebar fared in the survey but he also about the referendums on 8 March. We had a quite lengthy debate on these when discussing the related Bills. I concur with the Senator that clear, factual, impartial information is needed. The Electoral Commission will be delivering literature to every house in the country, providing the facts and information to every voter. At the end of the day, it will be a matter for the Irish people to decide which way to vote in the referendums. That is part of our democracy.
Senator Dolan spoke about flooding in Roscommon and the designation of SACs. It might be worth submitting a Commencement matter on this matter because it is quite topical. I do not know how we would redesignate SACs. I assume it is not a straightforward process, but I take on board the points on how a reassessment can be carried out if the situation on the ground changes. I suggest a Commencement matter. If further information is needed, let me know.
Senator Malcolm Byrne requested again that we have a select committee on AI. I absolutely support his request because the work of such a committee could do would be very valuable. The AI Act we have seen at EU level is the first of its kind. We are moving in that direction. I have requested a debate in the House with the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, so we can go through more of this.
I support the Senator's call for more focus on the unified patent system referendum. Hopefully, there will be more focus on it once we deal with the referendums that are to be held first, in March. At least, it will be held along with local and European elections, so there should at least be a good turnout for it.
Senator Maria Byrne has asked for a debate on hospitality, which we will request.
Senator Clonan has called for the disabled drivers tax relief scheme to be updated. He made a point on the situation of David Digan. It seems a little ridiculous at this stage, so I support the call for an extension.
Senator Garrett Ahern has asked for a debate on Irish Water, including water pressure in Grange and a particular area of Knocklofty. I suggest that the Senator submit a Commencement matter as it is a specific question related to a local area issue.
I welcome the lady members of Malahide Golf Club to Leinster House. I hope they have a pleasant visit and adjourn to the 19th green here in Leinster House.
Order of Business agreed to.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 12.43 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 12.52 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 12.43 p.m. and resumed at 12.52 p.m.