Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. It will probably be a surprise to most people as they go about their normal lives that no matter where they are in the country, be it in a rural or urban setting, they are probably in close proximity to someone who has been or is experiencing being trafficked. Trafficking does not follow typical patterns or even a stereotype of victims. It is not all about sex trafficking or what occurs in brothels. Its participants are not people who are other to ourselves.

We can all be unwittingly complicit in benefiting from people trafficking in the services we procure for our businesses and homes. While an offer of an organised service at a domestic level may appear to be extremely reasonable, what is the real cost in human suffering? Are the workers working voluntarily? Do they show signs of distress? Are they working long hours? Where do they live? Can they move freely? Are they being disciplined harshly? Are they having fines imposed on them? We have seen cases go through the Workplace Relations Commission in recent years where people have been subject to domestic abuse, trapped in homes, paid a pittance or fined for infractions. We have even had people being made to pay for the balance of their contract when they have a desire to return home.

Do we as a society inspect or consider the supply chain for our cheap goods, cheap clothes, or the cobalt in our mobile phones? Do we consider the misery that was incurred in our latest acquisition? It is absolutely reasonable and fair that we have a national conversation that slavery should stop. We all have a duty to become sensitised to and aware of the past, our attitudes, our inherent racism and the inbuilt prejudice that we all have.

While doing so, we also need a national conversation to challenge the slavery from which we are benefiting today. I refer to the small choices we make in the goods and services we buy. The Seanad is the perfect forum for this conversation and I ask the Deputy Leader to accommodate that in the schedule.

I join with Senator Seery Kearney in marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. I also second the proposal from Senator Ó Donnghaile to amend the Order of Business to call in the relevant Minister to debate with us and explain the appalling conditions in the Skellig Star direct provision centre and to explain what it is proposed to do, urgently, about those conditions. As Senator Wall said, Senator Hoey raised this issue yesterday, and all of us who have been reading the reports have been distressed and concerned regarding these appalling conditions. Yesterday, I wrote to the Ministers concerned, Deputies McEntee and O'Gorman, asking them to address this issue urgently but I have not yet received a reply. The Labour Party supports the proposed amendment, which I formally second.

I also echo the words of Senator Craughwell on disability and join with him in commending the Enough is Enough group, which staged a very effective event outside the Convention Centre yesterday. The group has done a great deal to highlight issues facing persons with disabilities. Like Senator Craughwell, I call for a debate on this issue in the Seanad to be held urgently, particularly in light of the disturbing findings reported on the "Morning Ireland" programme today regarding 5,000 children having been waiting longer than the law permits to have their needs, such as those associated with autism, formally assessed before they can access public health services.

Anyone who has had any engagement with the assessment services will be well aware of these dreadful waiting times, but it is concerning to see it set out that the average waiting time is 19 months, despite the stipulation in the Disability Act 2005 that assessments must be completed within six months. Children's lack of access to services, and the consequent serious effect upon the conditions from which so many children suffer, are serious issues. We had some very distressing reports about this on the "Morning Ireland" programme as well.

I join with Senator Ó Donnghaile in hoping we will receive an update on this issue. There was consensus in the House yesterday regarding concern at what was happening in Cahersiveen. It is important, therefore, that we receive an update on that situation.

I support the re-establishment of the select committee on Brexit. If we had been asked six months ago what issue we would have been debating the most in this House, we would have said Brexit. The reports today highlight how important it is that this country is prepared to deal with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. I refer to the impact on Border communities, but also on trade, agriculture and transport. I am glad that there are commitments in the programme for Government to ensure that our ports, and particularly Rosslare Europort, are ready for Brexit.

I would also like for us to focus on an aspect of Brexit that is both a challenge and an opportunity and that is education. It is essential that we maintain bilateral education relationships between Ireland and Britain. There are many research collaborations and much good work has been done in this area by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and we must look at ways to ensure that aspect continues to be facilitated. The Erasmus programme is one of the most successful European programmes ever and it also provides opportunities for Ireland. We must look to the post-pandemic period, when students will be travelling again, because many more students from continental Europe will be looking to come and study on an English-speaking island.

We must also think about the longer term and that means fostering closer relationships between Irish higher education institutions and those in continental Europe, and also in investing in modern European languages. The Department of Education and Skills has a language strategy and we must ensure that children from primary school level right through the education system have access to learning modern European languages. In the context of the Brexit discussion, therefore, the Brexit select committee should not only deal with immediate issues that will arise, but, if there is a no-deal Brexit, it should also explore what educational opportunities that situation may present for Ireland two to three years down the line.