Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Ward asked for a debate with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on expanding the criteria used for the HEAR programme. We could probably use a debate on the HEAR and DARE programmes. Both are valuable but they have not been reviewed for a long time. They probably need to be updated, so I will try to organise that.

Senator Keogan spoke at length about the worrying information that has come to light in the past couple of weeks, not just with regard to the cameras that might be on these premises - I believe the Ceann Comhairle is going to report to us through the commission on that, hopefully in the context of reassuring everybody - but also the growing rise of behaviour on the part of organisations in respect of politicians in particular and also a wider group of individuals who may seem to have influence. In the context of what countries throughout the EU have done in the past number of years, they did not take their respective actions without good reason. I will try to organise a debate with the Minister. I assume it will be the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. I will come back to Senators with a date in that regard.

Senator Maria Byrne welcomed the reopening of Castleconnell post office, which is great to see. Senator Gavan raised this issue last year when the office was closed. It is nice to see that when we raise an issue, people actually listen and respond to communities. I welcome that.

Senators Maria Byrne and Gavan referred to the Taoiseach's visit to UHL tomorrow. For all the people in that area, I hope his visit will elicit a response. We are all aware that there were high-level management meetings and that the Minister visited the hospital. As Senator Gavan stated, however, we still have an average of 77 people on trolleys every day. I asked the Minister to correct the record last week. I will contact him again today in order to bring to his attention the points the Senators made.

I will certainly send a letter regarding the status of the tender to which Senator Murphy referred. As we all know, these matters take far too long. I will send the Senator a copy of the letter to the Minister.

The Senator raised another important matter. Between them, the Department of Health and the HSE have an enormous budget in respect of home help, which is something many people have championed for long period. However, even though we have the money, there is a roadblock in that there are not enough people to provide services. Senator Murphy suggested that home help hours could be in lieu of financial support to families if they can find services and staff themselves. I will certainly bring that suggestion to the attention of the Minister.

Senator Flynn is seeking a debate on the homelessness crisis, especially in the context of the temporary accommodation people are living in, the insecurity in that regard and the lack of tenure that exists until they eventually get what will hopefully be permanent homes. The Senator is also seeking a breakdown on the spending with regard to Traveller accommodation. I will get that and send it to the Senator by email. I will submit the request for a debate on the homelessness crisis to the relevant Minister.

Senators Burke and Lombard, who opened proceedings this morning, referred to the retention of the 9% VAT rate relating to the hospitality industry.

Senators Burke and Boyhan spoke about the serious issues that Senator Kyne and others have been raising here, week in and week out, since last May or June. The board of the IFI, which was exonerated and cleared by the Bradley report, has been stood down. In addition, there is an internal investigation into some of the most serious allegations that are being made against personnel in the IFI. There have been numerous requests for the Minister to come before the House. I was informed last night that he will, as he is compelled to do under section 18 of the relevant Act, go before the joint committee to answer questions. Even so, I will make the request on behalf of Senator Boyhan again today. If it does not happen in this forum, it will certainly happen elsewhere in the next number of weeks. At that point, people will hopefully get answers.

Senator Kyne spoke about the fact that the special recognition payment. This was introduced by the Government more than a year ago to recognise people who went over and above the call of duty in looking after us during the pandemic. As the Senator indicated, many people, particularly staff in University Hospital Galway, have not yet been paid. I will raise the matter with the relevant Minister.

Senator Davitt asked for a debate with the Minister for Justice about the growth of a certain type of insidious behaviour and of protection rackets that are being operated on building sites. I will certainly ask for that.

Senator Black asked for a debate in respect of the delay in implementing the Labour Court's ruling on adult literacy tutors. I will certainly ask for such a debate. I will write a letter to the Minister in the meantime. We might get a written response more quickly than we would a debate. We will ask for both.

Senator Gavan raised the lack of a date for the safe access Bill. I will put in for a debate today but I ask when we will get the legislation in order that we can get to the nub of the issue and hopefully protect people. I have not heard before about what Senator Gavan called the 40 Days of Life protest. I accept his bona fides in this regard. I will certainly pursue the matter with him.

Senator McDowell asked for a debate on gender dysphoria and the future of services in Ireland, particularly for our young people. Such a debate would be timely. I will ask the Minister to do that for us.

Senator O'Loughlin referred to the review of the EPSEN Act and encouraged as many people as possible, particularly parents and children who have experienced the special education route through school, to get their views known. In that context, the Senator talked about the ONE campaign.