Yes.

Ar aghaidh leat anois.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I thank the 20 Members of the House for their contributions on the Order of Business. I begin by joining with all of the Senators in congratulating the Irish rugby team on their magnificent success on Saturday. The occasion brought great joy and celebrations to us as a people. I also congratulate Rory Best and commend Joe Schmidt on their leadership and tremendous success in winning the Grand Slam, in particular winning in Twickenham on St. Patrick's Day. I thank all of the supporters, clubs, mentors and family members who supported or assisted all of these players to reach the pinnacle of their professional careers last weekend.

I thank the Irish supporters for the way they celebrated and behaved during the course of St. Patrick's Day. I commend all who organised and participated in the St. Patrick's Day parades that took place across the country. It was a wonderful showcase for us, as a people. It highlighted the importance of community, creativity and art in this country. I join with Senators Gavan, Feighan, Coghlan and tú féin, a Chathaoirligh, in paying tribute to and remembering the late Liam O'Flynn. I wish to convey on my own behalf, and on behalf of the House, our sympathies to his family on his sad passing.

I wish to refer to the contribution made by Senator Gavan.

I would love to have been at the Planxty reunion. The evocative image Senator Gavan created this morning is something Liam O'Flynn did through his music, work and art. I wish to be associated with the remarks on his sad passing.

Data protection was raised by Senators Ardagh, Bacik and Feighan, among others. The misuse of personal data is both wrong and worrying. The Data Protection Commissioner is having a meeting with representatives of Facebook. It is important that we realise the significance of what has taken place with Cambridge Analytica and to commend all involved in unfurling this issue. It is a cause of worry. It is our personal data and data harvesting, whether is on Facebook or elsewhere, is wrong and cannot be condoned. Whether it occurs in the United States, Ireland or the UK, we must be careful and cognisant of it. I am sure part of the Minister's Bill tomorrow will address some of the issues involved. However, we must be vigilant in how we use our information online and how we use online apps and information. It is critical to ensure that what we do online is not given away. I realise there are some who will use this as a stick with which to beat people but Facebook's European headquarters is in this country. It has a duty to live up to its obligations and I hope it does so. The Minister will be in the House tomorrow to discuss the Data Protection Bill and I hope he will address some of the significant issues mentioned in the House this morning. However, it is a worry. The trend has begun and I hope it can be curtailed and eliminated. We have a precious democracy and our vote. We do not have electronic voting but there is the ability to be influenced by online platforms, as we have seen in other jurisdictions. I hope that cannot continue.

Senator Ardagh raised the sports capital funding. For the record, 35 of the 149 appeals under the sports capital programme appeals process proved successful. I am not familiar with the information the Senator gave this morning with regard to the school she mentioned, but schools are eligible to apply. It is ironic that the Senator is complaining about the sports capital programme given that the party of which she is a member closed it down and deprived clubs and schools of the ability-----

We created it.

It was actually the former Minister, the late Donal Creed, who set up the sports capital fund under the national lottery. Rather than playing one school against another, the sports capital programme is about investing in community, sporting and educational facilities. There was an appeals process. There were some clubs in my constituency that were unsuccessful. I wish they had been successful. It is important to understand the importance of the sports capital programme. Many clubs, community groups, schools and facilities are celebrating the sports capital programme, having been awarded an allocation from it.

Very much so.

With regard to the inner city, the Government established an inner city task force which is investing in Dublin's inner city. As regards the point made by Deputy Ardagh about Dublin 8 - to be fair, she has made it previously - I certainly hope that Dublin 8 would not be seen as a dumping ground for the issues the Senator raised. The people of Dublin 8 and surrounding areas are fine people who invest in their community, promote it and have a great sense of community. I will be happy to arrange that debate with the Minister in the House.

Senators Craughwell, Conway-Walsh, McFadden and Mullen raised the tweet by Senator Devine. In my political life I never call for a head or make a matter personal but it is fair to say that Senator Devine's actions were grave and catastrophic, to quote Deputy McDonald. The response of Sinn Féin has been less than adequate, to be honest. I will not get into a political row about this because that is not my style. Brian Stack was killed. He was a prison officer doing his job. It is not like anything any other Member of the Oireachtas or politician retweets. This man was killed and Austin Stack is seeking justice for his father and his family.

Murdered.

Yes, he was murdered. His life was cut short. I agree with Senator Mullen.

It is about ensuring that we allow Senator Devine the space to come to the House, if she so chooses, to make a comment. In our online activity, none of us can support or retweet anything which is so uncaring in terms of what the Stack family is trying to do. There is a duty on all of us, whether we are Independents, members of political parties or members of society, to be careful what we say, what we tweet or what we put online. I have no time for cowards who hide behind anonymous Twitter handles and issue bile against all of us. They have no place in a democracy. As democrats, we go before the people and appear on television programmes or radio panels and are accountable. The issue of keyboard warriors, who are cowards, needs to be addressed. I hope Senator Devine will reflect on her position. Other people have made comments but I have never been personal or sought someone's head in my political life. We all have a duty to understand that this is not just any person, it was a prison officer who was murdered while doing his job. His family deserve justice.

Senator Conway-Walsh referred to the Social Justice Ireland report. I have not seen the report but I know Social Justice Ireland held a press conference earlier. It is important to recognise that unemployment in decreasing and that more people are back at work, which means that people have more money in their pockets and that the level of poverty is decreasing. I accept that we have a long way to go. That is why, in a recovering economy, it is important to spend money on services and programmes which deliver for people. It is also important to recognise that we have a finite amount of money to spend. I would like someone to tell me why, given that we are spending over €13 billion on health this year, people are still waiting on trolleys and, as Senator Colm Burke inquired, why there has been an increase in the numbers in management. The fundamental structure of the HSE, which was created by Deputy Micheál Martin, is wrong and unsound. That is why the Sláintecare report was published.

Senator Gallagher referred to GPs. As Senator Colm Burke said, the talks with GPs begin now. We should not procrastinate or allow the process to become an elongated discussion. We need investment in primary care. We need to get rid of the FEMPI legislation, which was introduced by Fianna Fáil, and restore pay to doctors, nurses and those working in our health system. That is why the all-party report on Sláintecare was published. It is extraordinary that we have inequalities and inadequacies in our health system at a time when we have the highest ever budget. Something is not right. In my opinion, it is the management structure of the HSE. Senator Colm Burke is 100% correct. We have too many managers and people walking around hospitals with clipboards and pens. We need investment in real people. I speak from experience in that regard.

I agree with Senator Bacik on the all-party motion on Syria. I am endeavouring to have an all-party motion from the point of view of the Government, as she knows.

I join Senators Norris and Ruane in commending the students of Trinity College. They raised the ridiculous decision to introduce a fee for students repeating exams before the St. Patrick's day break. As I said, students are vulnerable and under stress. The decision was wrong and I welcome the talks and intervention by the student body. It is always important to have a good student body. Senator Ruane was a member of the student body when she attended Trinity College. It is important that students' unions recognise that they have power, legitimacy and a mandate from their peers to negotiate on their behalf.

I hope the referendum Bill goes through the Dáil today and tomorrow. As we discussed at the leaders' meeting last week, I hope to have the Bill in the House next week and to conclude the debate on it by Easter in order that we can allow for the establishment of the Referendum Commission. All Senators should allow for our deliberations on the Bill to be concluded before the Easter recess.

Senator Ruane referred to social welfare inspections. I am not familiar with the issue she raised. We have always had social welfare inspections but there is a need for decorum and due process.

Equally, there are people who are abusing the system who need to be held to account. I agree with the Senator that there is a balance we can strike in this regard.

Senator Byrne asked when the dual-diagnosis clinical programme for addiction and mental health announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, will be established. I will endeavour to have that information provided to the Senator.

One the eve of the anniversary of the Warrington bombing, I join Senator Swanick in paying tribute to Colin and Wendy Parry on their bravery and courage and in remembering Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry, who were killed in that bombing. We all remember the effect it had on us and so many people around the world. The Senator is right to praise and commend them on their bravery.

It is my intention to have a discussion on the Good Friday Agreement post Easter. I will endeavour to have that debate the first week after the Easter recess. We had hoped to take statements on issues pertaining to Brexit related to the North but owing to changes to the Minister's schedule, we will have to rearrange the taking of that debate.

Senator Boyhan's contributions are, in the majority of cases, profound. His commentary this morning regarding the rejection by the European Court of Human Rights of the Government's case around the so-called hooded men is baffling. Those men were tortured by the British army and the RUC and their human rights were denied. Irrespective of who they are, they are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity. I agree with the Senator that human rights are applicable to everybody.

Sorry, I cannot let that stand.

I was agreeing with the Senator's commentary.

For the record, I know exactly what I said. I am clearly supporting the Government and calling for an appeal.

I am not disagreeing with the Senator; I am agreeing with him. Our thoughts are with the men who suffered appalling treatment and whose case must be heard again. The Minister was due to meet with them but owing to Storm Emma that meeting had to be cancelled. I am not disagreeing with the Senator so I am not sure where he is coming from.

The Leader used the word "baffling".

I am baffled by the decision of the court.

We are all in favour of an appeal.

I welcome the clarification.

There was no ambiguity in my position, Senator Boyhan.

Senator Lombard spoke about the WiFi4EU programme. It is important that all local authorities, the Government and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, get on board with this programme. Yesterday, President Juncker spoke about connectivity in every village and city by 2020. I hope that we can do that.

Senator Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of asylum seekers in Lisdoonvarna. All of us accept that we have a duty to take in refugees and to make them welcome here. I am not familiar with the details of the case in Lisdoonvarna but I am certain that the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, as a former Chairman of the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and a person with huge interest in this area is working with the Department on this issue. The Senator might get a speedier response were he to table a Commencement matter on the issue. All of us recognise that we must people who come to our country with respect and dignity and that is what, I am sure, the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, is endeavouring to do in this case. As I said, I am not familiar with the case.

Senator Butler raised the issue of hospital parking charges. I congratulate the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, on being the first Minister to examine the issue of hospital parking charges. To be fair, Senator Noone raised the matter here long before the current furore about it. It is important that there is recognition of the reason family members visit hospitals. Some hospitals provide a voucher to the families of people who are in cancer treatment. It is important to acknowledge that the review is under way.

I join with Senator Butler in congratulating the staff in the Athboy post office on their decision to return to work immediately and in wishing the innocent member of the public well in his recovery.

Senator Norris also raised the issue of European Court of Human Rights decision. The other matter raised by the Senator is one for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Senators Gallagher and Burke raised the issue of general practitioners, who play a critical role in our health system. It is important that a new GP contract is signed immediately. We also need an increase in capacity and to bring about reform.

Senator Gallagher has become a little absent-minded in his outlook in life in respect of his contributions on the Order of Business of late. He is coming to the Chamber with rose-tinted glasses. He should look upon the FEMPI cuts imposed by his own party and the way in which they decimated the health system when Fianna Fáil was in government. Now we are seeing an increase in the number of training places and a recruitment campaign. However, I recognise that we have a way to go and should see a reversal of FEMPI and pay restoration for our GPs, who are at the vanguard of what is done in the health system. Primary care is important, and it is important, as I said earlier, that the talks, including the contract talks, begin immediately and do not become an prolonged talking shop. Our GPs deserve pay restoration and improved pay and conditions. If we are to give due recognition to reform in our health system, our GPs must be part of that and we need that done immediately.