The Order of Business is No. 1, Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Bill 2023 – Second Stage, to be taken at 12.15 p.m. and with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, with the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes in which to reply.

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. There are several issues that I wish to raise. The disability matters committee has had really good engagement on deafness and hearing loss. Hearing loss has often been referred to as an invisible disability, not just because of the lack of visible symptoms but because it has been really stigmatised. There is invisibility in policymaking and I could honestly say the issue is ignored by policymakers. There does not appear to be a strategy or plan for hearing care, either in the health system or the education system. I am appealing for proper research and data on this because unfortunately there is none. Some 80% to 90% of children with hearing loss go to mainstream schools but there are absolutely no data showing how they are getting on or how they are supported. We absolutely must provide the data.

The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, said primary schools will have the opportunity to teach a second language. There is no reason that could not be sign language. I know of a community that has done this extremely well. Maggie Owens, who is deaf, teaches in Cabra and lives in Athy, has developed a wonderful community called Athy Sing & Sign. Young people in the community have formed their own signing choir and do events. In fact, they were in Leinster House last year. There should be more of this in the Parliament.

I also want to raise the issue of septic tanks. I note that 63% of septic tanks failed inspections last year in my county, County Kildare, according to the EPA. That has to be a concern for all of us because we all have to play our part in protecting our local environment. There is a good grant scheme to assist householders in carrying out works to rectify defective septic tanks. This is administered by our local authorities; 85% of costs are eligible for recoupment, and eligibility is not means-tested. The scheme is undergoing a full review. If people have concerns about it, now is the time to make them known. It is really important that everybody gets involved.

The final issue I want to raise is based on an article I read recently that states seven people have died over the past 18 months having had plastic surgery or dental surgery carried out abroad. The most recent case involved a man who had dental surgery in Turkey. This is of great concern. We need more awareness because many of the systems abroad are unregulated and have unregistered practitioners. There are obviously some very good systems but the Department of Health absolutely needs to roll out an awareness campaign.

On that topic, I heard Professor Donal O'Shea state on the radio the other morning that somebody who went abroad had an operation carried out in a warehouse. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.

I want to raise just two points on the Order of Business. Let me follow on from the comments on the septic tank grant scheme. I have a Commencement matter submitted on this issue for next Tuesday that I hope the Cathaoirleach will look upon favourably because there is an anomaly. One had to register a septic tank by 1 February 2013 and there was a legal obligation to do so. It is a requirement to access the grant. If in 2017, 2018 or 2019 people purchased a property that was not registered at the relevant time, they are ineligible for the grant, which is not their fault. I hope this will be dealt with in a Commencement debate next Tuesday.

The other matter I want to talk about is cost-rental housing and its roll-out. We are eagerly awaiting the detail of this subsidy or equity scheme the Minister will roll out to enable the private sector to get involved. I hope the details will be available before the summer recess to provide clarity to the sector. In my area, Waterford, we had really positive news that 98 cost-rental homes have been approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I had the pleasure of working with all the stakeholders on the project: Circle Voluntary Housing Association, Waterford City & County Council, Frisby Homes, the Housing Agency and the Department. Approval has now been given to proceed with 98 cost-rental homes in Waterford. These are the very first cost-rental homes provided at a cost at least 25% below the market rent. Given the constrained nature of the market in Waterford, this is a very welcome intervention by the Government in the housing sector. It comes on the back of more than 100 affordable-purchase homes becoming available in Waterford city. We need to see the continued roll-out of such schemes. We now have the first-home scheme, the local authority affordable-purchase scheme and the cost-rental scheme delivering housing in Waterford, alongside social housing, which the approved housing bodies and Waterford City & County Council is progressing. The Land Development Agency is actively considering bigger projects in the context of the North Quays development. Therefore, there are many positive developments on the housing front, but particularly on the rental side. In that context, it is important to consider the tax treatment of residential landlords in the budget. We have seen that a large number have left the market and we need to put measures in place that will retain and attract new landlords.

I now call on Senator Mullen. I thank Senator Keoghan for accommodating his next move. I will give Senator Keoghan latitude in her contribution because, in fairness to her, she was to be the first speaker.

I also thank Senator Keoghan and, indeed, the Seanad Office for guiding us through the necessary formalities on this. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 15 be taken before No. 1 today." This relates to my Bill, the Broadcasting (Restriction of Salaries) Bill 2023, which I hope will be debated in the Seanad next week.

We are all aware of the crisis that has broken out at RTÉ. It is a crisis of transparency and accountability. We do not know the full details yet but there is major public concern about the possibility that arrangements were made to deal with certain people's salaries in a manner designed to deceive the public as to their true nature. To quote an infamous phrase from the politics of Britain and Ireland, that is "an appalling vista". However, there has been concern for a long time over the issue of salaries in the public service broadcaster. The reason, notwithstanding the commercial dimension of RTÉ's activities, is that once you are talking about the significant amount of public funding that comes from the television licence, you are dealing with the reality that money is fungible and that any salaries, howsoever constructed or sourced through private contractual arrangements or contracts of service, are therefore ultimately about the use of public funding.

There are market realities as to whether it is really the case that major salaries have to be paid to secure the services of certain people and whether those services are essential. There is the reality that being in a prominent role in a public service broadcaster contributes to significant earning potential outside of the broadcaster by way of private engagement.

The Bill, which we will have a chance to discuss next week, seeks to limit any salaries, howsoever constructed through contract or otherwise, so that remuneration does not exceed that of the Minister, taking into account public service benefits. It will require the publication of any salaries that are equivalent to those of a Dáil Deputy. It will also provide that it is an offence to breach those caps and that it will be an offence, with serious penalties, to cause the public to be deceived in any way as to salary levels. There are other provisions also. It would be a contractual requirement that those employed would not disclose their personal views on matters of public controversy. It would also require RTÉ to set out the sanctions to apply where breaches of the codes are found by the compliance committee. I hope it will get a good debate in the Seanad next week. I hope there will be support on all sides of the House for it.