The Cathaoirleach might grant the same degree of latitude as I try to respond to the questions Senators raised.

I will.

Senator Buttimer called for a debate on the HSE's winter plan. That is a good idea. A request to the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to come before the House has been made. I have been told that we are tentatively looking at Wednesday, 7 October for the debate and that has been confirmed by the Minister's office.

I was asked to arrange a debate on the aviation sector. It is my understanding that Senator Conway has sought Private Members' time to discuss that topic. Senators, including Senator Gavan, asked for a debate on Shannon Airport. Senator Conway's Private Members' business relates specifically to that airport. That should give all Members scope to discuss the aviation sector, which is in a difficult situation. I echo the sentiments of Senator Gavan on regional airports. My local airport, Ireland West Airport Knock, is in a similar position. If it were to go, it would be devastating for the region.

Senator McDowell raised also raised the winter plan, which I have dealt with. The Senator also made an interesting suggestion to amend the Health Act 1947. The pandemic has thrown up many new issues for the country that we have never dealt with before. We should be concerned with regulations that are imposed on the country without proper debate on their long-term effect. Obviously, we have to be able to respond in an emergency and deal with matters as they arise. The Government has to have such flexibility. The Senator's suggestion is certainly wise and I will pass it on to the Minister for Health.

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile raised the issue of Emma DeSouza. As others, including Senator Higgins, have said, Ms DeSouza has performed a significant public service to all of us in highlighting the issue. The previous and current Governments completely agree with her position. She absolutely has the right to identify as an Irish and British citizen. That should be respected under the Good Friday Agreement. I was glad and heartened to see that crowdfunding has assisted in the significant legal bill she and her partner are facing. That shows the goodwill of the people in backing up what is a worthwhile and worthy cause she has taken up.

Senator Moynihan raised the issue of defective apartments. The Minister with responsibility for housing was to conduct a review of these homes. I do not have an updated position on that review. Senator Moynihan told the House that the review group has not met and I will take her at her word on that. Certainly, these concerns will be passed to the Minister to try to address the matter. Senator Moynihan also asked that the Minister for Justice and Equality come to the House to discuss the Planning and Development Act. That is a worthwhile proposal which I will pass on to the Minister.

On the issue of Covid assessment hubs raised by Senator Martin, it is a very sensible solution and recommendation, given that the hubs currently deal with those over the age of 16. With the return of children to school, it is fortunate that they are broadly unaffected by Covid because it would be a very different pandemic if our children were getting very sick, so we thank God for that small mercy from this deadly virus. It is certainly a sensible suggestion that perhaps there should be a separate location for children in such circumstances so that we can keep our GP practices clear and free as best we can.

I note very clearly the points that Senator Higgins made. She has raised them consistently at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges with all the group leaders. I share her concerns on that front, as does the Leader of the House. This is no way for us to be doing our business. We should be seeking to return to taking all Stages of Bills, as is appropriate, with sufficient spacing between each Stage to allow for amendments, proper scrutiny and debate. I want to see that happen and will relay those concerns up the line. The Senator received agreement throughout the House on that point and there has been widespread praise for her ability and passion in regard to the legislative process, which we are all grateful for. It is very important for all our work as Senators.

Senator Ardagh raised the importance of looking after the south inner city of Dublin. An Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, visited the constituency with her to meet local residents and examine the issues in that area. There is no doubt that parts of the city are very disadvantaged and are suffering because of that. There was considerable success with the north inner city task force established by the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and there is no doubt that something similar could be very effective for the south inner city too.

Senator Kyne raised the issue of local government funding. I have had the same representations, from not just elected members of local authorities but also council staff. There will be a considerable shortfall this year and again next year, and potentially beyond that point. The Senator rightly pointed out that all the areas of income for local authorities have been severely hampered by coronavirus, such as people applying for planning permission, using council facilities, rates and so on. The suggestion there could be a 30% cut to non-payroll expenditure is very worrying for every local authority and it is incumbent on us to do something about that.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of the Defence Forces' conditions and pay and the specific issue of the Jadotville soldiers, something on which he has my support. I raised the issue during the previous Oireachtas and cannot understand why it has not been addressed. The Senator and I have discussed the matter on numerous occasions and he has my full support on it. I acknowledge he supports Senator Higgins's motion. As for the issue of ministerial advisers, my view is that it is good that Ministers or Ministers of State seek the advice of those who have expertise in areas where they do not. I would like to know that if Ministers of State at various Departments do not have a particular expertise, they will seek it out and not just go on the hoof and make it up as they go along. Expertise is good, but I take the Senator's point and his views on the matter.

I would like a debate on it.

Several debates have been requested and those requests will be passed on to the various Ministers with responsibility.

Senator Gallagher made a poignant point about the sacrifice of the people in dealing with Covid. We are at a difficult point in the pandemic six months in. There is Covid fatigue. People are frustrated and have had enough. I think there was an expectation when this began that it would be finished by now, but we are probably not even halfway at this point. We had a little respite for the summer months of July and August, when there was an easing of the restrictions and society opened up a little bit. Psychologically, people and communities needed that but now, as we head towards the winter months and the annual flu season, the impending pressure on our health service and on the front-line workers who are dealing with that is very worrying for all of us. There is now a real need to knuckle down and do the basics right, such as hand-washing, personal responsibility and mask-wearing, all of which are very important. All of us here are community leaders. It is important that we use our media and social media platforms and interactions we have in our communities to drive that message home for the next few months. Winter will be difficult, more so for some than for others. For those living alone or in isolation or those who are less able to get out and about, it will be a difficult couple of months and we all need to play our part to help people through that.

Senator Carrigy raised the prospect of holding a pre-budget debate on agriculture. I will do my best to request a date from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, although I cannot guarantee that will be forthcoming.

The agriculture sector is heading into a very difficult number of months as we approach the next Brexit deadline. We have had a number of those deadlines but the 1 January deadline for the end of the transition period poses a very real and serious threat to the agriculture sector in particular. The people involved are extremely worried about that and Senator Carrigy has raised a number of matters that I am sure representatives of the Irish Farmers Association have raised with many of us and which are worthy of consideration.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of Shannon Airport and I have dealt with this through the Private Members' debate. I hope it will give Members an opportunity to raise the matter. I agree with the Senator's suggestion of a joined-up approach for all our airports and we should not allow a position where airlines dictate how things are run in this country. It is very worthy of a conversation in this House as to how we might approach that matter because of Shannon being brought out of the remit of the Dublin Airport Authority and the complexities that come with that.

Senator Dooley raised the matter of climate action and the need for a Minister to come before the House to speak on it. I completely agree with that. Climate will be the major issue, along with Covid-19 and Brexit, in political discourse for the next four to five years if we get that far, as Senator Higgins has said. I hope we can. It is an important debate to have and we should be to the fore in Seanad Éireann in debating the issue. The just transition fund has been a major success in the midlands and I see no reason it cannot be extended if a particular area meets the criteria. I agree the Moneypoint region of west Clare is one of the areas that could certainly benefit from coming under that fund.

Senator Ahearn raised the matter of sport and the very important role it plays in helping people in communities to deal with the pandemic. Sport is a really important part of our lives, whether we play it or go to watch others play, or even whether we have families involved. Sport is at the heart of most rural communities, in particular. Pressure on local sports clubs will increase and they have not had the same access to fundraising that they would have normally. In normal times, fundraising would kick back into action now after the summer so certain supports will need to be put in place to ensure that at the local and grassroots level, small sporting organisations will not be left behind.

Senator Black raised the question of mental health and the very real impact that Covid-19 is having on it. We know it is a major problem and this will only get worse if we do not take action now. It is very welcome that the United Nations and World Health Organization have indicated that countries should be very aware of this and take positive action to try to address the matter. It can very often be an unspoken result of Covid-19. Physical ailments can be very easy to see or address but mental health can be much more difficult to deal with. There is isolation, loneliness and an impact on younger people. The Senator hit the nail on the head by saying young people have suffered terribly through the pandemic because so much has been taken from them, including access to friends, the potential for new relationships and a college experience. So much has changed in a short period and we are asking much of our young people. Their mental health must be cared for by the Government.

Senator Cassells raised the matter of vaping and e-cigarettes. It is a real issue and the Senator mentioned the obnoxious vapours that are emitted by users of e-cigarettes. I agree with the Senator and there is not really enough expertise around e-cigarettes just yet as they are still quite new. It is worrying to see so many younger people in the schoolyard and outside secondary schools vaping at lunch or before and after school as if it is a game. Maybe it is slightly better than having a cigarette but I do not really know - because we do not really know.

One could have a joint.

No, thanks.

It is very relaxing.

Is it? Good for the Senator. To get back to vaping and e-cigarettes, which are legal but which still pose a threat to public health, we should debate the matter.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly raised the matter of issues facing dialysis patients. There are so many vulnerable and at-risk groups in this pandemic and she has highlighted particularly vulnerable patients who are awaiting transplants. Many parts of our health service have suffered because of a slowing down and people not having access to services because all the focus is on the immediate threat of Covid-19. There will be a knock-on effect on other parts of our health service and this must be raised with the Minister for Health.

Senator Boyhan backed up Senator Higgins and I have addressed the question of the legislative process. The Senator is correct that we must have a debate on local government funding. Senators Kyne and Boyhan made those points today.

Senator Conway raised the question of the events industry. Dublin was busy and bustling this time last year, when it was difficult to get a hotel room and restaurants and cafés were full. It is a very different city today than it was before the pandemic.

If our capital city is not doing well, our country is not doing well. It is a real concern for the local economy here in the city, for people who run businesses and for their livelihoods. The suggestion from Senator Conway that we would engage with the events industry, which employs a lot of people and has been particularly hit because its business has come to a complete halt, is certainly a good point to raise.

Senator Byrne raised the issue of having a better strategy with France as it is now our nearest European neighbour. I absolutely agree with that. On the Lukashenko regime in Belarus, I share the Senator's sentiments. What we have witnessed is absolutely appalling and it is good to see world leaders step up to the mark and call it out for what it is. It is disappointing that not all Members would share those views but we are a diverse Seanad, as has been pointed out, which is good for robust debate.

Senator Warfield raised the issue of co-living. In the last Seanad and the last Dáil, Fianna Fáil raised serious concerns over co-living. Those concerns are even more serious now that things have changed because of Covid. It simply is not a suitable way to live, in my view. Certainly, the review needs to happen and I will raise the issue directly with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to get an update. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue.

Senator McGahon raised the issue of the retail and hospitality sectors. Like the business and events industry, retail and hospitality have been massively hit. There are stark figures with 292,000 employed in hospitality and a further 250,000 in retail. It is a huge number of jobs. As Senator Black also identified, there are a lot of younger people working in those sectors and a lot of people on lower pay. They have been disproportionately hit in terms of the loss of jobs and opportunity. The retail and hospitality sectors are in a most difficult period. Somebody said to me that it would actually be easier to go back and deal with the financial crash than what we are dealing with now. At least there was more certainty, remarkably, around the financial crash. We knew what we were dealing with and there was an end and a way to move forward. With Covid, it is changing every week and month. We do not know what we are dealing with. We do not know when it is going to end. That prolonged uncertainty is crippling the retail and hospitality sectors. They are areas that need specific and targeted support.

Senator O'Loughlin raise the issue of the hospice movement. I join her in saying that without the hospice movement and the local hospices, I wonder where many families would be today. Certainly the areas of Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath need to have a hospice service. My own local hospice, Mayo-Roscommon hospice, does fantastic work helping families at the most vulnerable and stressful time. It is a really important service. I am certain that the Minister of State with responsibility for older people would be happy to come before the House. I will request that debate for Members.

I thank Senator Ruane for raising medical detox and the addiction services. It very much hit home for Members here today that if we remove these services, people lose their lives. It is a stark reminder of what some people are going through and the services that are needed. I will raise the matter directly with the Minister for Health. A lot of services have been put on hold, delayed or slowed down right across the health service. It is having a deeply negative impact on people. We have not really felt the full effects of it yet. Senator Ruane has presented the House with clear evidence of the impact of removing that particular service.

Senator Seery Kearney referenced Make Way Day. I thank her for doing so. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has a campaign out today to get people to make way for those with disabilities. It is really important that we do our best to move towards not just a more accessible society but a more inclusive one. They are distinct and different things. We take for granted the ability to walk down the path and step off if we need to get around a parked car or broken pavement. That is not possible for every member of our society. Every local authority should be doing its part to improve local services and access to public spaces.

Senator Keogan raised the issue of adult day services. She probably saw that I was nodding along while she was speaking. This is the harm that has been caused to so many people. We are leaving people in absolute isolation. I refer to services for families where an older son or daughter is still living with at home and the parents are in their 70s or 80s. It is a most difficult position for elderly people who are still caring. Lots of Alzheimer's day services have ended and are not back operating. A lot of families are in highly pressurised environments, six months in with no day services, respite or break from full-time caring. They are doing the work that the State should be doing. We owe it to them to at least provide a break every now and again from that. I will request that the Minister with responsibility for disabilities come before the House to debate that issue.

Senator Mullen might be surprised to hear that I agree completely with everything he said about the debate on the right to assisted suicide.

It is a very important debate for both Houses to have. It should not be rushed and it should be properly considered and thought out. There are many aspects to it. I do not yet know where I stand on the issue, and how we can be compassionate and assist with the difficult cases of which we are all aware, and also protect those who may be vulnerable if it does not work in the way we want it to work. There are many issues to be debated on the subject and I agree with the need for a full and proper debate. We should not rush this particular issue, and every aspect of it should be properly and carefully considered.

I agree that the extra resourcing of palliative care services is needed, regardless of the end-of-life debate. Palliative care is important at all stages of life, whether it concerns a young baby, a child, an adult or an elderly person. Everyone needs that sort of care towards the end of his or her life.

Senator Fitzpatrick raised the issue of mortgage holders during Covid-19. It is an issue that needs to be looked at by the Minister for Finance, because we have come to the realisation that we are in this situation for the long haul, and for the next number of months at least. People will need a break from paying their mortgages, and they should not be penalised for it. Given the recent findings of the Central Bank against KBC Bank and what we have seen some of our pillar banks do to Irish citizens and people living in this country, and the real harm and hurt they have caused, it is time for the pillar banks to step up and show leadership. They must give back to the Irish people in a time of need because the same was done in reverse when the banks needed help. We need to see the reciprocation of that now.

Senator Higgins proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That Report and Final Stages of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 not be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

I thank the Deputy Leader for her remarks and hope we can work on these issues into the future. The amendment is being pressed.