Order of Business
The Leader sums up the interventions, including the Parnell Square verdict and other matters raised, and then the Chair puts Senator Mullen’s amendment to the Order of Business, which is agreed.
I am still busy writing on the last issue. I thank all 13 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business this morning.
We started with Senator Fitzpatrick who spoke about the verdict of the jury in the case involving the awful stabbing at Parnell Square. Many of us were brought back to the day of 23 November 2023 when that awful tragedy happened and what ensued in Dublin after it. As the Senator said, much changed for that little girl, her family, the whole school community and the larger community. I listened to her mother speak yesterday. What an incredible woman. She is without bitterness and just wants to help her daughter to live the best life she can in a difficult situation. She is an incredible woman. As the Senator said, the verdict will not turn back the clock, but we saw true heroes in Leanne Flynn, Caio Benicio and others who assisted. They are incredible people so it is important to shine a light on them.
The opening ceremony, which many of us had the privilege of attending yesterday, was absolutely excellent. A huge "Well done" to all involved. The cultural programme was absolutely excellent. We were able to showcase the best of Irish talent and culture, a merging of the old and new. That is important in any celebration such as that. It is an important time for Ireland and Europe and the Senator is right to hope we can all work together to ensure the priorities of the EU Presidency, of competitiveness, values and security, are upheld right across Europe. In the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and the negotiations, particularly around the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, we need to ensure the Irish influence works in a positive way.
It is the 250th birthday of the USA. While the present presidential team is often criticised, and rightly so, we still have to celebrate all the positive aspects of the US and the many Americans who live here and the many Irish people who live in America. We wish all well, particularly all those who work for American companies in Ireland.
Senator Boyle spoke about Government initiatives to encourage skilled workers to come home. Some of the areas they focus on are housing, health and childcare, which are key issues for all of us when making decisions to come home. The Senator raised a valid point that the driving licence rules are quite draconian. People who have a licence here and then leave and spend more than ten years away have to sit a test again. The Senator suggested the possibility of requiring them to do a refresher course instead. We will certainly ask the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to come for a debate on this. Once people have sat a test in this country and have driving experience elsewhere during the period of absence, it would make sense to do that. The insurance for those returning can be draconian as well, and that needs to be looked at.
I accept Senator Mullen's amendment. It is a well thought-out motion so I thank him for it. I note Senator Keogan seconded it.
We spent a little time on Thursday last week talking about the drugs use committee and I understand there will be a debate in both Houses, and rightly so, when its report has been laid. Senator Mullen focused on only one of 161 recommendations and it is the one that is getting all the attention. The report does not call for the legalisation of drugs. It calls for the decriminalisation of the individual, which is slightly different. We need to have a clear, health-led approach, but I agree that we need to have clear laws on drugs as well. It is a complex issue and without doubt, all Members, whatever seat they sit in, want to see a situation where we are preventing addiction and helping those who have sadly fallen into addiction to recover their lives and taking the scourge of drug addiction off our streets. The consequences of crime and how families and communities are impacted are shocking. Drug selling, distribution and dealing would still be crimes under the recommendations, but they are just recommendations at this point. I agree we need to have a debate.
Senator Andrews spoke about puppy farms. He held a successful briefing in the audiovisual room yesterday. He spoke about the website dogs.ie, which takes no responsibility for the dogs it promotes. He is right that these websites should be regulated because, unfortunately, a lot of the dogs they are promoting are in high-volume breeding factories. We need strict compliance with high welfare standards. With the upcoming legislation, we will have the opportunity to debate that further.
Senator Dee Ryan has consistently highlighted health concerns in Limerick and the mid-west area. Today, she spoke about the protest in Limerick last Tuesday, which she attended with nurses and midwives who have huge concerns, as the INMO has, about the staffing at University Hospital Limerick, particularly in the neonatal unit, which is an important element of the hospital.
What is happening there at the moment in relation to staffing has been described as catastrophic by health professionals themselves. The Senator has also raised consultant numbers and dental appointments for young people before. We will ask the Minister to come in and address this and give an update on the new site at Limerick which will be really important for the mid-west area as well as the people of Limerick. A new neonatal clinic could go there.
Senator Keogan spoke about a report from the Children’s Rights Alliance about vulnerable minors and particularly unaccompanied children who come to this country. She spoke of her concerns about private companies having the contracts to take these young children. My understanding is they are quite heavily regulated and rightly so. I know someone on an individual basis who happens to work with Tusla. I know from informal conversation that they are really involved in the placement of the unaccompanied minors and the monitoring of them. The Senator is right. It is a concern and we need to ensure the regulation is there and that we can support these young people who are very vulnerable in whatever way we can.
Senator Murphy O’Mahony spoke about road safety for pedestrians and particularly what they call jaywalking in America. There is such a difference when you walk on the streets here and in America where people will not jaywalk. They have such respect for the lights. As adults sometimes we are giving a bad example to children and schoolchildren when we decide we will take a chance and cross when there is a red light. We all have to reflect on our own behaviour. We will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Canney to come in and debate this and see if we can roll out an educational programme among young people and let them tell adults, if adults want to take that chance, that they are wrong. We have to empower them to be able to say that too.
Senator Pauline Tully spoke about her meeting with Macra na Feirme when it was here giving a briefing and about Ireland’s really excellent reputation in food production. We are relying on our farmers for that. She raised the concern about the age profile of our farmers and that we need to have good succession plans. At the EU affairs committee about three months ago, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, very clearly said that a priority for him was encouraging younger farmers and succession within farming. All the EU Commissioners are meeting in Cork today, as they do at the start of any EU Presidency, in relation to the host country but we do need to see advances on that and we will look for a debate on that with the Minister for agriculture when we come back in September.
Senator Sarah O’Reilly spoke about funding for roads for Cavan and not for the first time. I noticed Cavan was left out; Kildare was left out too so I have questions about it as well. I know she has raised this before so I assume she has put in a Commencement matter specifically on roads for Cavan. She is nodding her head. I will take it up with the Minister to see if we can get some response on that because she has been very consistent in raising it.
Senator McCarthy spoke about Aughinish Alumnia in Limerick. I would make the point that 800 people work there. It is the biggest ratepayer in Limerick and the biggest user of Foynes Port. An investigation is going on to see where the finished product actually goes to and if it is used in war products in Russia. The EU rule on sanctions was very clear that sanctions would only come into place once the host country was not going to be overly disadvantaged by being sanctioned so we have a bit to go in relation to this. I agree we need to see the report come out. We must also be mindful of 800 people and their families who are relying on employment and who are very nervous about sanctions being imposed and their livelihoods.
Senator McCarthy also mentioned housing. He said the Minister, Deputy Browne, had made great progress but we need to see more. It was interesting at yesterday’s ceremony to see António Costa mention affordable housing very specifically and how it is an issue right across Europe. We can tend to focus on how our communities are being impacted but it is across Europe. It was very clear from what he said that Europe needs to be able to step in and help and support where it can with progressive policies.
Senator Boyhan spoke of the plans for the Dublin task force and welcomed them. The new Lord Mayor, Daryl Barron, is very keen to make sure they are implemented. He also spoke about the transfer of the GPO to the OPW. It will be an incredible project and I am really looking forward to seeing that being advanced. I take the Senator’s point about looking for an indication of the local democracy task force. We will ask the Minister if we can get some type of briefing before recess.
I thank all the Senators.
