I cautiously welcome the news that some Irish citizens are to be released from Gaza. I wish the leader of Fianna Fáil, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, well and offer him the support of this House and the Irish nation in the work he is doing to try to secure the release of Irish citizens, a ceasefire and a pathway to re-establishing some level of humanity for the Palestinians, the Israelis and all of the people in the Middle East. Every right-minded Irish person utterly condemns the depravity and brutality that was visited on the people of Israel and is being visited on the people of Palestine. No amount of motions in this House will make much difference to people who are so detached from basic human values so we need to stop this false debate. It is insulting to the people whose real humanity is being attacked and destroyed. We need to recognise that there are methods and ways of dealing with such atrocities and to ensure that our Government does everything in its power to exercise those powers. Israel has already been referred to the International Criminal Court. We need to pursue that but, more than anything, we need to use all of our collective power to secure a ceasefire and some pathway to some form of restoration of peace and humanity for the people of this region.

I thank all Members who contributed to the Order of Business.

Senators Seery Kearney and Malcolm Byrne spoke about the situation in Ukraine and the fact that events in the Middle East have somewhat eclipsed what is continuing to happen in Ukraine. I have requested a debate with the Tánaiste on the situation in Ukraine. We will get that scheduled at the earliest opportunity to keep the issue on the agenda here.

Senators O'Loughlin and Fitzpatrick spoke about the Irish citizens who are making their way through the Rafah crossing as we speak, which is welcome news. I, too, listened to the interview on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning and heard the person describe the bittersweet feeling of getting out and getting his children out but leaving behind family and friends who are not in that fortunate position. It must be a very difficult position to be in.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the situation regarding the Israeli ambassador, as did Senator Gavan, and the need for diplomacy. There is a live situation in Gaza. An Irish citizen is being held hostage by Hamas and there are Irish citizens we are trying to get out of Gaza and the Middle East. Not having that connection and diplomatic link, to which Senator McDowell also referred, would make the job of getting our people out almost impossible. While it may be popular to call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and I am sure it goes down well with many people, the reality is the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Government are actively trying to get our people out of that area. If the Irish ambassador to Israel were to be expelled, which would happen if we expelled the Israeli ambassador, it would make that job almost impossible. That would be unconscionable. It is not realistic or a pragmatic approach. As Senator O'Loughlin rightly pointed out, if we thought for a second that expelling the Israeli ambassador would bring peace and a ceasefire and save lives, we might be inclined to do something like that. In reality, it would have no positive impact on the situation, however. I can only assume those advocating for it believe it would be popular with some people and might go down well. It is not something any government could do when they are trying to deal with a live situation, however.

Hear, hear.

I have no difficulty defending that position.

Senator O'Loughlin also spoke about the meeting with LAMA this morning. Most political groupings met with LAMA today to deal with some of the issues it is raising. I concur with the Senator that the role of a local councillor has developed, expanded and become more demanding in recent years. They have the same safety concerns that we, as Oireachtas Members, experience. They are dealing with the same issues with which we are dealing. It is a full-time job but it is almost categorised as a part-time role. All political groupings are finding it difficult to get people to stay in the job of a local councillor and to find candidates to contest elections. That indicates we have a problem with local government, one that will worsen if we do not address those concerns. I thank LAMA for its work in engaging with all political groupings today, keeping those issues live and on the agenda and representing the views of councillors throughout the country. We also engage with the Association of Irish Local Government. It is important that we hear that directly from local councillors. Most Senators served as members of local authorities and we know very well the challenges of being a local councillor.

Senator McDowell spoke about the reading room. Many Members have supported his call to reinstate the room. There seems to be a conflict behind the scenes between the view of Members of the Houses and what the Oireachtas tends to implement. It seems to have been exacerbated during the Covid period. Many changes came through under Covid and were not undone or things were not reinstated to the same level as before the Covid period. Obviously, there is the role of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, on which Members are represented, and those views are taken back. Given that a clear view has been expressed by Members of both Houses to have the reading room reinstated, I see no reason why that should not happen. That is the express view of Members of both Houses. It would be a sorry state for our national Parliament, the Oireachtas, not to have a facility in which Members can read and keep abreast of what is happening. It speaks to being an informed Parliament. If we are not using those facilities, why are we not using them? That speaks to a broader issue. I concur with the Senator's remarks in respect of the Israeli ambassador.

Senator Boylan welcomed the electricity security review and highlighted challenges that are still being faced by many citizens - individuals, households and businesses - in terms of arrears with their gas bills. The Government has done a good job in the past two budgets in supporting people with significant cost-of-living packages. A huge amount of money has been spent through electricity subsidies and supports for businesses. The Government will not be found wanting in continuing to support businesses and households to deal with high energy prices, which seem to be stabilising and coming back down but are still very high. That is acknowledged by the Government and borne out in its response in the past two budgets.

Senator Sherlock spoke about public service broadcasting and the recently published strategic vision for RTÉ. She highlighted concerns in respect of the reduction in staffing numbers proposed by Kevin Bakhurst in terms of seeking voluntary redundancies. I watched the "Prime Time" programme on which Mr. Bakhurst appeared last night. He was clear the redundancies sought would be voluntary and that efficiencies would be made. We will see greater investment in the independent sector. We have to see how this plays out. It is a welcome move by RTÉ to put to bed issues with which we dealt during summer and move to a new chapter in the national broadcaster's journey. We look forward to the strategic vision being implemented by RTÉ.

Senator Sherlock also spoke about the Holy Family School for the Deaf and the need for additional supports to be given to special schools.

Senator Black spoke about the issue in Gaza. She referred to the business of the other House in terms of a motion, which is not under my remit. It is a matter for the other House. I do not understand why some politicians are seeking to make the situation in Gaza a divisive issue for this country. Listening to Members across both Houses, there is a unified position in wanting a ceasefire and peace and to save lives and stop the killing. This is not and should not be a divisive issue for Ireland. There is a somewhat competitive element to the comments of some Members, as though they have a greater humanity or care more about those losing their lives or about peace. Nobody has a moral authority or a monopoly on caring more about what is happening in the Middle East. We should be united on this issue. It should not be a divisive issue. There is something of a gotcha element to it. It is as though if a person does not say a particular thing in a speech or put it in a tweet, the person somehow does not care about the situation. It is unfortunate that we are having a divided Seanad and Dáil on motions when we all really have the same position.

Hear, hear.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about the issue in Ukraine, as well as the appointment of 14 new Irish ambassadors across the world. He welcomed the latter expansion and wished the appointees well in their new jobs.

I will accept Senator Carrigy's amendment to the Order of Business. The Senator spoke about Louis Belton and his level of service to his community. Those observations were eloquently put. We wish his family well in their time of grieving.

Senator Keogan called for a debate with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. I will request that debate. I do not think people are shying away from the immigration issue. I tabled a Commencement matter this morning in respect of its impact on the hospitality and tourism sector as a result of the number of bed nights contracted by the State. That is having an impact on related businesses downstream. The issue has been discussed extensively in the Chamber and the Government acknowledges we are struggling to deal with this issue due to the numbers coming in. There is, however, support generally from the public to help people who are fleeing war and in times of need. It is about how we strike that balance. We have not always got it right and there is a realisation that this issue is here to stay. There will be no reversing of engines on the issue but there are moves to deal with the social welfare and accommodation elements of it. The Taoiseach has referred to the pull factor, that is, whether we are offering too much of a package and making it attractive to come here rather than go to other countries. Concerns have been raised regarding the percentage of people who may have sought refuge in another member state but decided to leave it to come to Ireland. That should not be happening. It needs to be addressed and is on the Government agenda. It is acknowledged, however, that we are doing our best to deal with what is an extraordinary and challenging situation, and we are feeling the pressure of that. That is happening across all sectors of society. Broadly speaking, we can be proud of our response in helping those most in need. The Irish public support that position. As I stated, I will request that debate.

Senator Murphy asked for a debate on health and the issue of sepsis. He pointed out that approximately 3,000 people annually lose their lives to that condition. It might be worth the Senator first tabling a Commencement matter to see how he gets on. We will have debates on health, probably not this term but in the new term. A Commencement matter might be a quicker way of getting an answer on that issue in the next couple of weeks.

Senator Clonan raised, as he has previously, the challenges faced by children awaiting complex spinal surgery. That situation is unjustifiable. The Minister is doing everything he can to expedite those waiting lists and get the surgeries done. Senator Clonan put on record very well the fears, anxieties and pressure parents are under in dealing with that issue.

I have addressed the issues raised by Senator Gavan regarding the Israeli ambassador.

Senator Boyhan asked for a debate on agriculture and climate change. We will try to find a way to deal with that debate.

It clearly comes under two different Departments and, when we request a debate, the request has to be made to a particular Minister. We could ask both Ministers to come to the House for different debates to deal with the aspects that relate to their Departments, but perhaps there is another mechanism we can use to try to get a debate that will cover both issues under the one umbrella.

Senator Fitzpatrick also spoke about the Irish citizens released from Gaza today and commended the work of An Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and all of his officials, who have worked day and night to get those people through Rafah and on that list. There is more work to be done. The Tánaiste and the Government have done a very good job in their diplomatic approach to this extremely challenging situation that is moving almost by the hour, and which is a very sensitive issue, to try to get people to safety. I commend the Tánaiste, all of his team in the Department, and our ambassador in Israel on their work in getting those people out. We only hope we can do more in the coming days and weeks.

Senator Carrigy has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 9 be taken before No. 1." The amendment has been seconded by Senator Murphy. The Leader indicated she is prepared to accept the amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.