I thank Members who contributed today. Anna and her friend are very welcome to the Gallery. Good luck with your work experience here in Leinster House with Senator Flynn.
This morning, Senator O'Loughlin raised the issue of post-mastectomy products and their availability and the community scheme that is funded to provide those products to women who have had mastectomies. The issue was also raised by Senator John McGahon. My understanding is that the scheme was only available to those on medical cards. It will now be a universal scheme extended to all women. I think there is an acceptance that what has been announced represents a reduction in funding in some areas of the country. It was the case that in some parts of the country, people got everything that was available, and in other parts, they got less than that. I certainly support a universal scheme and a standardisation. Everyone should be brought up to the highest level, not brought down to the lowest level. The challenge is to make sure that anybody who has had this traumatic surgery should not be at a loss when getting a swimsuit, a bra or a prosthetic as needed to cope with what has happened. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, is looking at this now he has become aware of it. I am sure that many of us cross-party would push for that scheme to do the best for women right across the country.
Senator O'Loughlin also raised the issue of women experiencing alopecia, since the hairpiece, wig or grant would not be available in those circumstances. I absolutely think that it should be. That is a traumatic thing for a woman to go through and that support should be made available. I give the same response to Senator McGahon. The issue was raised with him by Alison McCabe, who runs a business in Louth, helping women who are getting fitted. She has given some practical advice on how the scheme can work better for those who she cares for.
Senator Boyhan raised the issue of Saint John of God's Community Services. I understand the Senator debated a Commencement matter this morning and received a full reply from the Minister in that regard. I take on board the comments he made about the importance of the service and the vast number of patients, some 8,000, receiving services there.
Senator Lynn Boylan raised the issue of electricity arrears. They persist in many households. The Government has done quite a lot, particularly over the past couple of years, in cost-of-living measures, with electricity credits that every household in the country received. I think most people will agree that, in the face of an extraordinary challenge, with soaring energy costs across Europe, not just in Ireland, that the Government did a good job at easing the burden of those increases. While we cannot do everything and completely offset the entirety of the cost increase, the vast majority of households received a substantial reduction in their bill because of that credit.
Senator Davitt asked for a review of the Sligo-Dublin train line in light of a review of the Cork-Dublin line having taken place. He has advocated for a more frequent service and I certainly support that call from Senator Davitt.
Senator Kyne raised the issue, as has been raised previously, of the all-island rail review that we are awaiting. A draft report was published and we now await the full publication of the report. We had been awaiting the restoration of power-sharing in the North and an executive and ministers in the North. We have that now, so I certainly support the Senator's calls. We want to see the western rail corridor restored, as has been advocated for many decades now.
Senator Craughwell raised a couple of issues. He drew attention to a comment by the Taoiseach. I will not get into personalised comments back and forth. The general point he was raising was the need to better invest in security and defence in Ireland and that we currently spend 0.2% of GDP on security and defence in the State, in comparison to most other countries, which spend approximately 2% of GDP. We are an outlier in that regard. He also said that the Defence Forces review and reform is limited to cultural reform as opposed to a reform of how the Defence Forces are run overall. I would certainly concur with those remarks too, although a review of the culture in the Defence Forces is hugely important.
Senator Malcolm Byrne has asked for funding for voluntary drama and theatre, since funding was made available during the Covid period. He is right that they are active across the country. A comparison is often made with the level of funding made available to sports clubs and it is said that a similar level of funding should be available for drama and theatre outfits too. Many children and people are involved in those outfits, which bring much joy to communities across the board.
Senator Martin Conway raised the issue of rail transport and said there was a greater need for investment in rail transport, as any train he has been on personally seems to be full at any time of the day. It is important that we invest in the mode of transport that people want to travel in. I certainly agree with those remarks.
I am aware of the video that Senator Mullen referred to. The issue was also raised by Senators Ahearn and Currie. Both sides are probably quite represented here today with regard to what may or may not have happened. I was not present at the press conference. I have been at other press conferences. It is quite normal for some questions not to get answered. My understanding is that time had been called on the press conference and usually when that happens, those at the press conference who are there to answer questions tend to move off the platform or the stage. Journalists often shout up, hoping that they might get a question answered at that stage. I am only assuming, since I was not there. If that is what happened, that would be normal conduct at a press conference. From what I can see online, many questions from that particular journalist do get answered, even if they are challenging and difficult. I agree with Senator Mullen's point that it is important that politicians are open and available to answer questions, even the ones they do not like or which challenge them the most. Ireland ranks as probably one of the best countries in the world for our openness and transparency in our media, and our access by journalists to politicians. We rank and rate very well in that regard. Long may that continue.
