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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Health and trade union access

Summary

The Leader then turned to health, acknowledging concerns about the National Rehabilitation Hospital and broader HSE staffing issues, and later addressed Senator Gavan’s right of access Bill. He supported workers’ rights and union access in principle, while noting the Bill concerns the other House.

It is a departmental policy issue and the Department is not engaging.

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There must be meaningful engagement by all sides in the resolution of this impasse. The Government has increased the PSO. It has increased funding to Bus Éireann. It is now a matter for the management and the unions to sit down and engage in the process. We must ensure there is connectivity and public transport links. We must also examine how we can deliver a better service for the people who require it.

Senators Boyhan, McFadden, Colm Burke and Swanick raised the issue of health. Senator Boyhan rightly raised the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, which Senator Hopkins raised last week on the Order of Business. It is unacceptable that beds are being closed at a time when the previous Government and this Government are committed to a progressive examination of how the National Rehabilitation Hospital can be developed and deliver its model of care to people who are probably most of all in need of care in the health system. The response from the Health Service Executive on the matter is unacceptable. I have seen a general blanket statement in response to the matters raised by Senator Boyhan this morning. It is important that we again have engagement. It is incumbent upon the HSE to sit down with hospital management and the Department or with local public representatives. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House regarding the matter.

Senator Conway-Walsh spoke about vulture funds and money but it is Voodoo economics and I ask her to re-evaluate how she wants the country to fund services. We must look at who pays for everything, how we pay for it-----

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Corporations-----

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I want the Leader-----

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Here we go. We are off again.

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Corporations and those who can afford it should pay more.

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Let us hear more of the slogans.

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The slogans are quite simple. I will outline a couple of slogans that are interesting. The number of people employed in the country is now 206,000 higher than when the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in 2012. A total of 6.8% of people are unemployed-----

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We are the second largest low-paid economy in the western world.

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-----compared with 15.1%.

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Senator Buttimer did not mention that.

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Denis O'Donovan An Cathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

The Leader should be allowed to respond without interruption.

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I will repeat what I said. I know Senator Gavan does not like good news about jobs. A total of 206,000 more people are at work than when the Action Plan for Jobs was announced in 2012, and, unfortunately, 6.8% of people are unemployed.

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A total of 300,000 people emigrated.

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More people are at work today than in 2012. The figures clearly show that more people are back at work, which is better for the economy as they can make a contribution to pay for the services and facilities Members have raised on the Order of Business this morning. I wished to give Members the good news again because it is important that we reinforce the positivity and good news.

Senator Gavan raised the right of access Bill. I have not seen the Bill. I was happy to support Senator Gavan's motion yesterday.

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I appreciate that.

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There is an issue in terms of access by trade union officials to building sites, shop floors and other places. As somebody who was involved in a union I recognise the importance of having a union in a school. We must understand the importance of unions to protect the rights of workers. I am sure an accommodation can be reached on the Bill but as the Cathaoirleach said, it is a matter for the other House, not for us here today. It is important that we do not allow the rights of workers to be trampled upon because we have spent a long time fighting for their rights. In a changing world in terms of employment it is important that we stand firm about conditions and rights. We can have a different roadmap for getting there but it is important that we stand up for workers rights.

Senator Coghlan raised the condition of the national park in Killarney, in particular rhododendrons and deer. I pay tribute to him for his work concerning Killarney National Park where he is a director. He has been a very strong champion of the importance of upgrading Killarney National Park and he has been instrumental in its revitalisation. He has been a wonderful ambassador for the park. He raised issues about rangers, the deer population and rhododendrons and I expect he can get a satisfactory answer from the Minister or if he raises a Commencement matter.

Senator Mulherin raised the matter of inequality in higher education in terms of funding and the squeezed middle. I share her view on the matter. We had the Minister in the House yesterday but Senator Mulherin could raise the issue on the Commencement.

Senators Warfield and Wilson raised the issue regarding the family of Pat Finucane. The matter was also raised yesterday. My position remains the same as then, namely, I personally stand for the right and the need of the family to get justice. Geraldine Finucane and her family have been very dignified in trying to have the truth established. It is important that we do all we can. Senator Ó Donnghaile raised the briefing in the AV room today on the McGurk bar bombings. It is important that we allow for truth and reconciliation for people on all sides of the divide in the North. It is not a case of one-size-fits-all or one side or the other. It is about all people. In the case of Pat Finucane it is important that we continue to make every effort in order to establish the truth in that case. I speak personally in that regard.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the issue of community radio and the reduction in fees for independent broadcasters by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

Speaking as someone who volunteered on hospital radio in Cork University Hospital and who appeared on Cork City Community Radio last week, the importance of community radio should never be undervalued and we should at all times promote it as an alternative to the commercial stations and RTE. In the main, it is driven by volunteers who give of their Saturdays, Fridays and nights, raise funds and man radio stations in the interests of providing connectivity for people who have no access. I commend Senator Byrne for raising this matter.

Senator Swanick spoke about Macedonia and the Joint Committee on Health. It is a pity there are no Senators on the all-party Committee on the Future of Healthcare, to which this matter is more appropriate for discussion. I lament the fact that there are no Senators on that committee.

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