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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Replies to Members

Summary

The Acting Leader responded to previous contributions, addressing Bohernabreena fly-tipping, givinostat, Darkness Into Light and the proposed low vision and hearing strategy.

Many Senators made contributions, and there are a lot of responses. Senator Costello referred to her home area of Bohernabreena in the context of fly-tipping and stronger enforcement. It is about respect and protect but we need CCTV brought in.

The Senator continued with her advocacy in respect of givinostat. It is great that the young man involved is home after his gene therapy treatment, but I hear what the Senator is saying. The commercial office and manufacturer are discussing price at the moment. The Minister for Health is committed to this and is working closely with the Senator on it. The call this morning is that the HSE national assessment team needs to keep the pressure on and get the job done.

The Senator also called for a debate on the cancer strategy. The current strategy is finishing, and she inquired about the planning of the next strategy. She requested that the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter. This is about major investment in PET scans, MRIs and CT scans. All of us across the House want to know exactly where the strategy is going. I think there would be unanimous support for inviting the Minister for Health to come here for a debate on the framework.

Senator Joe Conway spoke about the book Stolen Focus and how the digital age has captured the minds of many of our young people, in particular those going to school, and had an impact on their attention spans. The Senator referred to Sweden. Representatives from Meta and other digital leaders are before the children's committee this morning. I hope they are being subjected to a great cross-examination in relation to doomscrolling, targeting and algorithms. I have no doubt that our colleagues are putting them under pressure and asking the necessary questions. The Senator asked that the Minister for education come to the House to discuss the strategy for supporting people in education, predominantly teachers, and asked if we have plans to go where Sweden has gone in terms of the removal of a lot of digitalisation. I hope I captured that well for him.

Senator Nelson Murray made a brilliant contribution. What a great way to acknowledge Navan lady Sinéad Burke. My God, did she roll it out the other evening on the red carpet. I have never been as proud to say that I know that lady. When she strutted her stuff in black, it was fantastic. Her business, Tilting the Lens, has been advocating in the fashion world. Gone are the days when dresses had to be designed for women who were size 4. Now, it is all sizes, shapes, lengths and variations. Ms Burke has advocated. Gucci wants her and Giovanni wants her. She is in all the top fashion houses across Europe. I have to applaud her. She is a proud Navan woman and a proud Irish woman, but, most importantly, she is very proud in advocating for people with additional needs. It is about how we can make design, whether it is the built environment or how a person dresses, accessible in order that everybody feels included. I thank the Senator for her positive contribution. We sometimes forget that there are positive people who are making changes, and we have to acknowledge them.

Senator Andrews spoke about the regeneration fund and Oliver Bond flats. I am aware of this matter. I might be a country person, but the regeneration fund is all over social media. The Senator did not just comment on the Oliver Bond complex, he also referred to Pearse House and the former Glass Bottle site. He said that if the Minister cannot meet the residents, he would like him to come here to discuss the inner city, which needs to be the subject of advocacy. His point is well made, particularly as €500 million could be found for the civic buildings but rents are going up. We need to ensure that tenants and people living in the areas in question have their voices heard. I support the Senator in his call for a debate on the matter. Regeneration cannot just be in one area; it has to be in all areas around the country.

Senator Murphy O'Mahony spoke about ticket touting and the ticket sales Act. It is hard to believe in the five years since the latter was introduced, there has never been one fine imposed. There must be some gaps in the legislation. As legislators in the Upper House, it is incumbent on us to take that on board and to have a debate on the matter in order to see why fines have not been imposed. We know people are being gouged all the time. It happens, and we need to address that. There is work we could do, with the support of the Minister, to tighten up the legislation. Whatever we need to do to support the Minister, we should do.

Senator Murphy, who is from my area of east Galway, raised the issue of turf cutting. He is supported by Senator Mullen and me in that regard. Senator Mullen referred to the law and how the matter should be addressed. The NPWS had 15 years to find these people a site. Ultimately, one has not been found for them. The payment of compensation has stopped. The sheds are bare and the people of Ardgraigue, Barroughter and Cloonmoylan are wondering what they will do. They have been left in an ambiguous position. There should never be ambiguity when the law is in place. If the NPWS has failed to find an alternative site and if the people involved are not going to be given one, they are left with no option. They cannot be cold for the winter. People have to look after themselves. There is an energy crisis. I do not support breaking any laws, but the NPWS needs to many of the people involved, as do Senators Murphy and Mullen. They are not going to be cold. If the Minister has to come before the House to discuss the matter, then that is what needs to happen.

Senator Craughwell wants the Minister for Defence to come to the House. To be fair, the Senator is a constant advocate when it comes to security and defence. He wants to discuss the national security strategy. He is right that it is not just cyberattacks; it is also about water, electricity and gas and critical infrastructure. In light of the current geopolitical climate, we need to ensure that we are protected. I support the Senator. If it is okay, we will write to the Minister about the matter.

Senator Lynch referred to CPOs and greenways. There was a great delegation here yesterday from areas throughout the country that included members of the IFA and the National Greenway Action Association, which was only formed about a year ago. The hill farmers were also there. We had great success with the Waterford and Mayo greenways. However, when it has gone from €20 million to €70 million and when, for farmers, it is nearly a case of brother against brother in terms of discontent - we have it in east Galway - we should not force matters. A greenway should be the subject of permissive access. That is how it was initially introduced in conjunction with the IFA. Nothing should be railroaded through, and greenways should not disrupt productive farmland. There is enough land to find a compromise. At the same time, I would not be in support of the use of CPOs. We need to have a debate on the matter. Different local authorities have different views as to how greenways should be delivered. There is no standard across the country or understanding of how to work within communities. Like Senator Lynch, I think greenways are great, but not at the cost of putting businesses at risk. They are great economic drivers for the communities. We really need them locally in order to facilitate kids cycling, active travel and all of that, but this can only be done if we all work together. I agree with the Senator about having a debate on the matter.

I have agreed to every debate requested so far.

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