I thank the Cathaoirleach. I want to raise two issues. One is the report of the national independent review panel that has brought forward a report on the rape of an elderly and vulnerable citizen in a nursing home run by the HSE on behalf of the State. Other elderly residents made complaints about sexual assaults perpetrated by the same staff member. It would appear from the report that no action was taken. It was only through the bravery of a lady identified as Emily in the report, although that is not her real name, and her willingness to give evidence despite her trauma and her age, that this individual was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Yesterday, we had survivors and the whistleblower from St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park, which is also run by the HSE. These are two State-run nursing homes.

Margo Hannon, the whistleblower who made protected disclosures, was in Leinster House yesterday when she revealed that she had raised concerns about infection control and isolation during the first wave of Covid, which led to a number of deaths. Her complaints were ignored. When she made a protected disclosure and it was investigated, her findings were validated, but no lessons were learned. During a fourth wave of Covid, a further large number of elderly people died. There seems to be a recurring theme or pattern in the HSE of wanting to suppress information using spurious reasons like the general data protection regulation to protect the identities of the people involved. We should have a debate on how we might mobilise the HSE to take action in respect of the lessons that need to be learned and to stop punishing and retaliating against whistleblowers like Margo Hannon. It is completely unacceptable that a person who is trying to save lives finds themselves subject to hostile scrutiny.

Members are probably all aware of the submersible lost off Newfoundland that has a 24-hour supply of oxygen left. I am thinking of the five people and I hope they can be rescued. I am also mindful of the 24,000 refugees who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in the past four or five years. So far this year, 400 people have drowned. There is a report today of a fisherman in Tunisia who has found 15 bodies in his nets in the past number of days, including that of the baby. This fisherman said that he had become used to finding bodies in his nets but that when he found the baby, he cried. I congratulate the Irish Naval Service personnel who have deployed to the Mediterranean as part of Operation Irini. As part of previous operations, the LÉ Samuel Beckett rescued 2,000 people out of the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. May we continue in that effort.

We know that the people from Ukraine, from sub-Saharan Africa and from trans-Saharan Africa are coming here because of atrocities, war, climate change and human rights violations. Nobody puts a child into a boat to get a job at Starbucks in Hamburg. We must welcome everybody. I am aware that has been a very difficult matter for the Government, but I congratulate the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, for the efforts he has made to try to resolve this unprecedented problem despite all of the challenges that have arisen. We need to welcome these people, particularly in view of the appalling circumstances they face.

I thank the Senator. Our thoughts are with those people in the sea who were heading towards the Titanic. We hope they are found safe.

I thank the staff of Leinster House and the politicians who are heavily involved in celebrating Gay Pride this morning. The Taoiseach and the Cathaoirleach gave speeches, and it was lovely to hear. One of the Taoiseach's lines was about the level of homophobia having increased within Irish society. It was good to hear him acknowledge that. It is unfortunate that it has increased, but we also have lots to look forward to with the hate crime legislation. Things are changing. They may be changing very slowly but thankfully they are changing. When we hear our leader speak passionately around the inequalities that still exists it reminds us that Gay Pride is not just a celebration, it is also a protest. It is very important that we understand this and that we know it is not just a celebration. It is a protest for equality.

I also wish to raise the fact that Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community is setting up operations again today. I am absolutely delighted with that. If I was to never come back in as a Leinster House Member in the next term, this is a legacy that we all did together in order to have the Traveller committee up and running. Again, this is a welcome opportunity, but going forward we need to see more action. I hope this committee will be able to do that. I will also put myself forward to be the Chairperson of the committee. It is important that Travellers lead in the groups that are about them. We always say "nothing about us without us", so hopefully I will get to be Chair of that committee. I wish to use this opportunity to be positive because a lot of the time we can always draw on the negative stuff that happens within society.

Again, this is the opportunity to say "Happy Pride" to everybody and to remember it is a protest. We do have a long way to go to stop homophobia within society in general.

I thank Senator Flynn. May I wish the Senator and her committee every success in its deliberation and its work. Go n-éirí leat.

I will start by agreeing with the remarks of Senator Flynn. I also agree with Senator Clonan. It is really important, more than ever, that we as a country continue to show a welcome to those who are seeking refuge, in some cases from horrific conditions. Part of what is important is that we also talk about the horrific conditions from which these people are fleeing. There are many who still do not understand why people are seeking refuge on our shores. The more we can do to stimulate public debate, the better. The language we use within and outside these Houses is particularly important. The message has to be clear that refugees continue to be welcome in this country. Our history should teach us that.

I have frequently raised the role of the Chinese Communist Party in exploiting elements of the developing south. We now know that as part of its belt-and-road strategy, China and, in particular, the Chinese Communist Party owns 7% of the total land area of Africa. As the Leader may be aware, there is a big debate in the United States at present over Chinese shell companies buying up farmland. Investigations in the UK have found that Chinese shell companies and offshore entities are buying up UK properties. It is important for us to carry out a national audit of Chinese ownership of land, companies and businesses so that we can fully understand our exposure to the Chinese Communist Party. In light of the recent very thoughtful speech by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, on Ireland's relationship with China, it is appropriate that we would hold another debate in this House on that question.