I thank the 14 Members of the House for their contributions to the Order of Business.

On the issue raised by Senator Clifford-Lee, it ill behoves her and others to come into this House and play politics with the disability sector. Fianna Fáil was the party that cut funding to the disability sector during its tenure in government. I am familiar with the story of the COPE Foundation as my father was a former chief executive and I have family members working there. It is an organisation that is part and parcel of Cork and it is an institution in the area. There are issues in the disability sector that need to be addressed. I refer, in particular, to the issue of respite care in the context of section 38 and section 39 organisations. It is a topic which the Minister should come into the House to discuss. Notwithstanding the points made, the budget of the COPE Foundation has increased in recent years. It is a voluntary organisation and is doing great work in Cork. We should listen to and note the remarks made this morning by Mr. Sean Abbott, the chief executive the COPE Foundation.

It is important that the Government takes notice of what is being said. It is also important that there should be a recognition that the main aim is to provide services and supports for people who have a disability to allow them live independent lives in their communities. Support should be provided to these organisations, not just in Cork but across the country. Senator Clifford-Lee did not acknowledge in her remarks that the budget for disability services next year will be in excess of €1 billion. That is notwithstanding the fact that, as a part of the national service plan, more than 200 voluntary organisations are in receipt of funding. There is a real need now for the HSE, in co-ordination with section 38 and section 39 organisations, to put in place a stringent service level agreement, SLA, taking cognisance of the need for more respite care, etc. I am very happy for the Minister to come to the House regarding this matter. I accept Senator Clifford-Lee's proposed amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that No. 12 on the Order Paper, Harmful Plastics (Prohibition) Bill 2019 - First Stage, be taken before No. 1.

Senator McDowell raised the issue of Syria, the Turkish intervention and the Kurds. We had a debate on this issue as part of the Order of Business debate yesterday, but I would be very happy for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter. All of us must be deeply concerned with what is happening. The Senator is right to expose the hypocrisy of the American Administration, which abandoned people one minute and then in the next minute imposed sanctions on their supposed friend. The resultant vacuum has been filled by Mr. Putin and the real winner is Mr. Assad. Meanwhile, ISIS will re-establish itself. The whole policy is a complete shambles, causing the displacement and killing of many people. I welcome Senator McDowell's comments. It is important to note that different views to President Trump have emerged within the Republican Party in the US Congress concerning this matter.

I am happy to have the Tánaiste come to the House. We should all stand firm in our resolve and support of the sentiments expressed this morning by Senator McDowell regarding the matter.

Senator McFadden raised the issue of technological university status. The Technological Universities Act 2018 was enacted, which is very welcome. I commend Senator McFadden for once again raising the joint application of Athlone and Limerick institutes of technology for university status. The Senator has been a strong supporter of that application not only today but on other occasions. It is important that we progress the measures provided for in the Technological Universities Act 2018. I hope we will see a similar application for university status from Cork and Tralee institutes of technology.

Senator Craughwell raised the important matter of identity theft on social media and the lack of access to accountability within some of the social media outlets, which we may, perhaps, have been a little frivolous about earlier. This is an area in which we must have accountability, in particular for those people who Senator Craughwell rightfully pointed out do not have the recourse he has or the ability to communicate or engage. I am happy to provide for a debate on the issue. Later on today the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018 will be taken during Private Members' time. The Senator might take the opportunity of that debate to raise the issue with the Minister.

Senator Lombard raised the vexing issue of An Post's policy in regard to the replacement of postmasters and the need to keep post offices open. This is a matter for An Post but the points made by Senator Lombard regarding Belgooly are important.

Senator Wilson also referenced Syria, Facebook and the infrastructural deficit in terms of transport. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, has become the bogeyman for some in this House in terms of transport. Budget 2020 provides for increased funding and new commitments in regard to road projects, bus services, trams, BusConnects, the Cork metropolitan strategy-----

Where are they?

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, opened a new road yesterday, as Senator Wilson well knows.

People cannot get on trains in north County Dublin they are so overcrowded. Extra carriages are needed. There is increasing housing provision in north County Dublin but no infrastructure.

The Leader without interruption, please.

That issue was raised 20 years ago when Fianna Fáil was in government. In the intervening time, it did nothing

We need to hold the by-elections so that we can have a strong voice in government again. When Fianna Fáil was in government it did not plan for the future of north County Dublin.

We are all playing catch up now because of Fianna Fáil's bad job in government.

Fine Gael has been in government for nine years.

We are all playing catch up now.

The fastest growing part of the country is north County Dublin and the Government is not putting in the infrastructure.

I refer Senator Clifford-Lee and other members to the announcement in the budget last week by the Minister, Deputy Ross, in regard to the transport brief, which shows a commitment in terms of the capital spend on new trams and trains and improvements in the rail network. I ask them to read the section of the Budget Statement relating to transport. Let us live in the real world.

It is transport injustice.

Let us live in the real world.

I am sure Senator Clifford-Lee will welcome that there are now more people using our trams, buses and trains, which means there are more people back at work. When Fianna Fáil left government-----

People have to get up at 6 a.m. in order that they can get on a train.

Order, please.

-----there was 15.8% unemployment and people were emigrating. They are now returning or remaining in Ireland. They are returning here to work and raise their families.

They cannot afford to purchase a house and they cannot get on a train to get to work.

That is the legacy of Fianna Fáil. We will tell the people of north County Dublin that.

If Senator Buttimer does come to north County Dublin he will see the legacy.

I am sure Senator Wilson will join me in welcoming the budget announcement of a €2.7 billion transport allocation. The carbon tax about which the Senators spoke is being ring-fenced to tackle climate change. If Senator Wilson is a climate change denier that is a different matter.

I am not a climate change denier.

I hope not.

I am stating the facts of the situation. It takes the same amount of time and fuel to travel from the part of the country I am proud to come from to represent people in this House as it did previously. The fact that the cost of the fuel has been increased does not mean people will use less of it.

Senator Wilson knows that there is a need to take climate action.

A carbon tax increase is not action.

Will the Senator drive a horse and trap?

The Senator can get a grant for an electric vehicle.

As a consequence of the budget, there will be more charging points and €344 million for new trains, trams and buses and other measures to improve connectivity.

I hope the charging points are connected.

Will there be any extra carriages for the northern line? The Government is great at making announcements but bad on delivery.

Fianna Fáil did only one thing in government: it planned for itself and its cronies.

It is all spin and the people are paying the price.

Order. The Leader without interruption, please. Senators have all had their say.

I refer the Senator to the Galway tents and what happened there.

I was never there. I do not know anything about the Galway tents.

The Senators opposite should remember that to progress to the future we must remember the past. Today, we have one of the strongest economies in Europe. We have more people in work than ever in the history of the country.

Carers are outside the front gate protesting.

Senator Clifford-Lee knows full well that the record of this Government is a good one.

Hear, hear.

There will be judgment on that too soon.

Senator Conway made a very good point regarding the protests last week which deprived staff and Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas of being able to enter and leave Leinster House. It is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and others. It is important that staff and Members of the Oireachtas are able to access and leave Leinster House.

Senator Mulherin raised the issue of relationships and sexuality education. We had a debate on the issue in the House in the last couple of weeks. The Minister, Deputy McHugh, has made it clear that schools are obliged to teach all elements of the RSE curriculum which are age appropriate and will involve interaction and engagement with parents and families in regard to content. I assure Senator Mulherin that I have respect for all views, ethics and religions and none in terms of the teaching of the RSE curriculum.

On a point of order, there is no RSE in our schools. It is a disgrace.

With respect, that is not a point of order.

There is RSE in our schools.

There should be RSE in our schools. It is a scandal.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of carers and the protest. I agree with the Senator that no carer should have to protest. We do not take carers for granted. They are providing a service to people across the country. I refer the Senator to the changes made in the budget in terms of the 15 to 18.5 hours work in respect of which 1 million extra care hours were provided. As I said earlier, there is need for a real conversation on this issue be that by way of a citizens' assembly or a committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas and a comprehensive plan put in place with the HSE, the section 38 and 39 organisations and the Carers Association in regard to the role of carers, in particular in the disability sector and for our elders. I would be happy to provide a debate on the issue in this House. We do not take our carers for granted. We appreciate what they do every day of the week. I thank carers for the work they do. They should not have to protest outside the gates of Leinster House.

Senator Gallagher raised the issue of VAT on food supplements which the Minister has announced as part of the Finance Bill. The Senator will be well aware that certain food supplements will not be affected by the VAT rate application, that the Bill provides for an exemption in respect of foods for specific groups and that vitamins, folic acid and minerals will have a zero rating. There will be some changes which we can debate as part of our deliberations on the Finance Bill. The former Minister for Health, Senator Reilly, made a point regarding vitamin D, which is worth heeding.

Senator Reilly referenced enrolments at the community college in Skerries. I do not have an answer to his query but I am happy to have the Minister come to the House to respond to it. The Senator made the very good point that there is need for a review of the building unit in the Department of Education and Skills. It should always be subject to review.

I have not read the report on the hospitality sector as mentioned by Senator Gavan. If what he says is correct then that report makes for very grim reading and there is need for the Minister to come to the House for a debate on the hospitality sector. We are known as an Ireland of welcomes, the cead míle fáilte. Our bed and breakfasts, hotels and restaurants are an important part of what we sell across the world in terms of our tourism product. Central to this are staff who are happy and working in an environment that is conducive to their being able to produce their best and being treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

Will the Leader comment on the refusal of the Irish Hotels Federation to engage with the joint labour committees?

I am sorry, Senator Gavan, I cannot allow another question at this point.

We will have statements on tourism later. As Senator Gavan knows from my record, unlike others, I believe in consensus and talking and reaching out to everybody. There has to be engagement by all sides.

Senator Byrne referred to St. Vincent's special school, which is an important facility in Lisnagry, County Limerick. Like Senator McFadden, Senator Byrne has been a strong champion of technological universities. I will be happy to have a debate on the issues raised by her related to autism. The HSE autism plan has been established to address the need for multi-annual funding to build capacity and competence and provide certainty for parents of children with autism.

Senator Warfield raised the issue of PrEP. I think we all agree with his comment on the welcome announcement made by the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, on the need for PrEP. The increased rate of HIV infection is a cause of concern for many because there seems to be a sense a person can live with HIV and that it is no longer a death sentence. There is a need for an ongoing educational campaign, of which PrEP is just one part. I will work with the Senator in that regard. We have spoken to the Minister of State, the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Department of Health about the need for an accentuated campaign. When I was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health, we had a meeting every year on 1 December with the Minister and HIV-AIDS activists throughout the country. We cannot remove the issue from the radar. It is becoming more and more relevant, given that the last two reports have shown an increase.

Senator Clifford-Lee has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 11 be taken before No. 1." Is the amendment agreed to? Agreed.