I thank all Members who contributed on the Order of Business. Senator Conway raised the important issue that the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, which has been doing work with the Department of communications for more than 20 years, lost out on a tender process. That was not the Senator's issue. His point was that six visually impaired staff members who have been doing that work for a long time will not be taken on by the new company that has the contract to do the work. The Senator believes it is illegal and that there should be a transfer of staff. He has asked for the Minister to intervene. I hope that happens and that those six staff members are looked after.

Senator Byrne raised a number of issues. He welcomed his colleagues, Emma, Yvonne and Michelle, who are concerned with the Wexford school bus issue, to the Seanad. He also raised the public sector pay talks and again called for section 39 workers to be tied into that agreement.

He also raised a worrying Healthy Ireland survey showing an increase in the use of vapes or e-cigarettes from 6% to 8%. Very worryingly, 20% of women aged 15-24 now use vape products. The vaping Bill is progressing through the Seanad and much work is being done. Many of the vaping companies are the tobacco companies. They got out ahead quite early. It is a concern that there are vaping products or e-cigarettes that have certain flavours or colourful packaging. It seems they are targeting younger people and children, which is really insidious. We are making moves to address that. He also acknowledged that it is the 60th anniversary of the JFK assassination, a poignant date and one to be remembered in the House.

Senator Craughwell mentioned the Niemba ambush and read into the record the names of those impacted. He also called for the development of a diabetes strategy. I suggest that would be appropriate for a Commencement matter to the Minister for Health.

Senator Gavan spoke of aviation policy and welcomed the fact the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is looking at that. I agree with the Senator’s remarks. There is clearly an imbalance. Those of us west of the Shannon would look to fly from Knock or Shannon if possible and Dublin is the airport of last resort because it is so congested. There is plenty of capacity. I understand the argument is often made that airlines look to get routes out of Dublin but perhaps if there was a more level playing field, the offer of a route from Shannon or Knock would be more attractive to those airlines. Much work needs to happen. It balances the regions and is better for the region. Airports like Shannon and Knock support jobs and industry in the region and there is scope to take pressure off Dublin, which would benefit Dublin and people travelling from Dublin as well. It is a win-win and we look forward to the review of the aviation policy. I concur with Senator Gavan’s remarks on James McClean, as did Senator Davitt. I wish him well in the next chapter, whatever that brings for him.

Senator Davitt spoke of the mounting challenges facing small businesses, including the proposed increases in PRSI. With the challenges of recent years, businesses are under pressure. There has been considerable financial support from Government, which is acknowledged by the business sector, but I take on board the Senator’s comments. We will look to get a debate on that issue in the new term, though it is unlikely with the amount of legislation coming through that we will get that debate in during the coming weeks.

Senator Kyne welcomed the Moycullen bypass and the fast-tracking of the Adare bypass. He has, unsurprisingly, posed the question for people in Galway of what is happening with the outer ring road for Galway city. There is considerable support for that. I acknowledge also that members of the Green Party, in particular, would be opposed to the development of that road. I can attest from personal experience, having lived in Galway and visited there regularly, it is choked with traffic and it is difficult to get to work, school or college. In my view, it is hampering investment and development in the city. The project has vast support. The majority of citizens and public representatives in the city and county support the fast-tracking of the Galway outer ring road.

Senator Keoghan spoke of a report on who is the master of truth. I take on board her comments. Sometimes there is a groupthink element to things that are published and maybe a lack of critical analysis of what is laid before us. Without any bad intentions, one media outlet might take a particular view and that can be replicated because it is the easier route to getting stuff out. Such is the way the media cycle has gone. That is not good for debate, discourse or making sure differing views are aired.

Senator Wall has asked for a debate on defence with the Tánaiste on the plan published yesterday by the Department to implement the recommendations for reform of the Defence Forces. I note with interest the plans to increase the number of women in our Defence Forces. I welcome that a plan will be put in place to reinvigorate our Reserve Defence Force, which at strength had probably more than 9,000 members but is down to fewer than 2,000 now. I welcome that there seems to be a renewed focus on addressing that. He also drew our attention to rail transport, particularly in Athy, and the fare strategy that was due to be published shortly but is delayed, which he welcomes because there is more work to be done, in his view.

In a similar vein, Senator Murphy spoke of the lack of the tea service that was always on the train on west or north-west services to Westport or Sligo. I listened recently to Jim Meade talking about this. They are looking for an external contractor to provide the service but have not been able to get that yet at an affordable price. He was honest in saying that what were quoted to Iarnród Éireann were extortionate prices. They reinstated the services on the Cork line; those were the first to go back. It is the intention of Irish Rail to get those services back up. It is a long journey from Westport to Dublin; you are talking three and a half hours. Along the way, you cannot even get a bottle of water, which is not an acceptable level of service in this day and age. I hope that is fast-tracked. He also welcomed the all-star heading to Roscommon. That is a good news story for the people of Roscommon. Congratulations.

Senator Lombard, interestingly, asked for a debate on local government, which we had in the Seanad Chamber last Thursday for the entire day. We had representatives from AILG, LAMA and their counterparts in Northern Ireland. Many Members of this House contributed to the debate and many individual councillors who had made submissions were also here. I urge the Senator to engage with that process because that committee, under its Chair, Senator Mark Daly, and its rapporteur, Senator Cassells, will put together all of that work and publish a report on what comes out of it. It has the potential to be transformative of how we develop local government policy. I agree with Senator Lombard that the abolition of town councils was wrong. I remind him a party colleague of his brought about that policy. That said, the establishment of municipal districts has had some benefits. In my county of Mayo, we had three town councils in Westport, Castlebar and Ballina. With the MD model, those towns are at a disadvantage because they do not have their own budget for the town but it is of benefit to smaller towns like Claremorris and Ballinrobe. There has been a more equal distribution of funds to those areas. Whatever model we choose, there needs to be greater scope to have councils for other towns, not just to reinstate what was there before. We can do better. There is a democratic deficit. We lost about 600 councillors from the system, or was it even more than that?

It was more - 800.

In one fell swoop with the signing of one Bill, we lost a huge number of public representatives at a local level. That has increased the workload for county councillors. Now people are retiring early and we are finding it hard to get candidates. It has created a host of problems. We can improve on the current situation. We will take a positive view. As Senators, for many of us our electorate are our county councillors and there is a responsibility on us to try to improve the situation at local government and to improve democracy at a local level.

Senator Boylan spoke of the children and young people's assembly on biodiversity and their attendance at committee yesterday. She commended them on the level of knowledge. They would outdo us every day because they are so fantastic in terms of their knowledge. Young people are leading the way in the climate debate and telling us what we need to do. It is remarkable to see democracy in action among young people. I take on board the Senator's point around data collection as well.

Senator McGreehan spoke of regional roles and mentioned three roads in County Louth, the R173, R175, and R176. She said that is a regional route that has national levels of traffic on it. We probably all have roads like that in our areas or counties. It is a good idea to explore the possibility of a new standard of regional road in cases where we can demonstrate a certain level of traffic. Currently regional roads are funded through local authorities, which often do not have the resources needed to look after such roads.

Senator Seery Kearney raised transport and the changes to bus routes in Dublin and asked for a debate on that issue. I will request that debate. It will most likely be in the new term.

Senator Boyhan drew our attention to Conrad Bryan's booklet "Shame - European Stories" on being mixed-race Irish and the exhibition taking place tomorrow in Dublin. He urged Senators to attend.

Senator Cassells spoke of his role on the SPCC and gave his views on town councils. Importantly, he raised Tara Mines and the 700-plus workers currently laid off. It is 131 days now. He put some important information on the record about the profitability of that company, still, and the fact workers are getting €65 per week. It is disgraceful that those families and workers have been left in limbo for that length of time, particularly in the approach to Christmas and with the pressure on all families at this time of year.

It is a shame on that company for leaving it go this long, particularly when its profits would suggest it could do more. I would certainly urge it to do more and think of those individuals who rely on it and also its employees.

Senator Carrigy asked for an update on the national broadband plan. I suggest to the Senator that a Commencement matter might be appropriate.

Senator Mullen made a similar contribution to Senator-----

I take the Senator's point on the flow of information in the public domain, what is censored and what is not, who makes that decision on behalf of all of us, whether they have the authority or the right to do that and what kind of rules or safeguards are there to make sure that censorship is in the public interest. Certainly, I thought Ryan Casey was entitled to make his comments. I do not know why that was censored. I have an idea or I could make an educated guess. However, he is entitled to make his views known and he has been through a very traumatic period and he has to live with what has happened as do the entire family. He is entitled to have his views heard by all of us because he is a victim in all of this. Well said, Senator.

Senator Cummins spoke about the energy credits and the scam that is going around. I have not received that but I understand some colleagues have. It is a very elaborate and clever scam on the part of scammers. People are becoming more aware of that, but the timing of this one is particularly clever. We will try to get the word out to as many people as possible to be careful with that. It would be very easy to click on that without realising because it looks and sounds legitimate. People need to be aware these days, particularly around this time of year. The Garda says that there are more online scams of this nature at this time of year because more of us are shopping online and we are on our phones a bit more. We need to be as vigilant as ever on these matters.