Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Feb 2024

I welcome the students from Carlow Educate Together who are here.

Members will be aware a good friend of all of us in the parliamentary community, Michael O'Regan, passed away at the weekend. He died suddenly on Sunday. He was a former parliamentary reporter, political analyst, author and broadcaster, lately of The Irish Times. He grew up in Blennerville, west Kerry. Newspapers, books and poetry were a constant feature of his life. That resulted in him pursuing journalism, in which he had a long, varied and accomplished career. He was a well-known voice across radio and television and a respected political journalist. He won a national journalism award in 1980 and joined The Irish Times in 1981. His coverage of the Kerry babies tribunal stood out at the time and still does as a mark of his journalistic skill and compassion.

To all of us in this House, he was a familiar face and voice in the corridors, halls and canteen of Leinster House. He was more than familiar with this place. He was a Dáil reporter appointed in 1988 and a central part of the coverage of The Irish Times until his retirement in 2019. Michael earned the respect of all of us through his integrity and saying it as it was. He loved politics but, perhaps more importantly, he loved being with politicians, talking and swapping stories with us and having a bit of craic. He had a great sense of the importance of the political system, of parliamentary democracy and of its value. He had wonderful insight, knowledge and perspective on political life. As politicians, we might not always have agreed with him. We could have a bit of banter as well as disagreement, but he was always respectful, good-humoured and full of wit.

Michael loved Kerry and on Radio Kerry his "Call from the Dáil" became synonymous with him and his life in Leinster House. Our former colleague and friend, the late Senator Paul Coghlan, who was a founding shareholder of Radio Kerry, took great delight in having Michael on the radio. If Paul got a mention on the "Call from the Dáil" slot, it was like winning the lotto. To Michael's family and friends, in particular Elizabeth, his daughters Deirdra and Alyson, his grandchildren and his siblings, we extend our deepest sympathies. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. At the end of the Order of Business, we will hold a minute's silence for our friend Michael O'Regan.

I welcome our Canadian friends, the speaker, the ambassador and the entire delegation. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I concur with the Cathaoirleach's remarks on Michael O'Regan and extend my sympathies and those of the House to his family on his sad passing. He was one of the very few people - I would say I could count them on one hand - whose tweets I actually enjoyed reading. He was always witty and balanced and he called out and cut through the nonsense. He was a very fair commentator. He espoused the views of middle Ireland and the average person on the street when discussing politics and life in general. We will all miss him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval of a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Irish language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community in Galway city, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn at 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 3, motion regarding Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023 - Instruction to Committee, to be taken at 2.30 p.m., without debate; and No. 4 Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken on conclusion of No. 3 and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by Government. Private Members' business, which is to be taken at 7 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 4, whichever is the later, is No. 129, motion 3, regarding the situation in Palestine, with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

I also acknowledge, as part of the delegation from the Canadian Senate, Senators Jane Cordy, Percy Mockler and Colin Deacon. They are all welcome and I thank them for being here. I thank Ambassador Smyth for the work she is doing in Ireland on behalf of the Canadian Government and for her engagement with us in the Parliament.

I welcome our esteemed guests from the Canadian delegation.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend our sympathies on the sudden passing of our friend as well as our colleague, Michael O'Regan. Michael was always incredibly fair and just. In particular, he always saw the person behind the politician and always went out of his way to try to make sure that people were comfortable and treated well. We will all miss him in a huge way and, in particular, as the Leader said, his tweets.

The first issue I want to raise is post-mastectomy products. Yesterday, we heard information about this and I was very concerned and alarmed when I heard part of the Joe Duffy show. I wanted to learn a little bit more and see what I could find out before making a comment on this. I understand this comes under the community funded scheme and there is a budget of about €300 million per year, which is significant. These are hugely important supports for women who go through mastectomies.

I understand in the past there was a postcode lottery in respect of what a woman undergoing a mastectomy would receive. In some cases, she would receive one or two mastectomy bras and in other cases two bras and a swimsuit. We all need to aim for the higher end of that. Every support should be given, including a prosthesis for those who do not go undergo reconstructive surgery. In the past two hours, I have learned that the scheme will be extended on a universal basis. It is not just those on a medical card who will be able to avail of support. That is important and we need to welcome that. In terms of Sláintecare, we need to have such universal supports. That is a positive thing.

There will be standardisation across the country, which is positive. There should not be a postcode lottery. The major concern is the amount of funding that will go to each individual. I understand €60 is provided towards the cost of one mastectomy bra; and €200 for a single prosthesis and €400 for a double on a biannual basis. It is very clear that we need to provide more. Women undergoing this very traumatic surgery need all our help and support. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has been really good in terms of women's health and I believe he will do the right thing on this.

Secondary to that, I want to raise a similar situation regarding those suffering from alopecia who need a hairpiece or wig, something available to those affected by cancer treatment. I understand there is a suggestion that those who suffer from alopecia will not get a grant of €600. This is wrong and we need to appeal the Minister to make sure this is changed.

I too would like to raise the issue of mastectomies, which was raised in the Dáil by Deputy Colm Burke and in this House yesterday. I am bringing this to the attention of the House because of Alison McCabe from Dundalk in County Louth. Alison runs Breastcare by Alison and it is her job to fit people for bras following mastectomies. Until today, various parts of this country had different funding levels, depending on whether people lived in Donegal, Louth, Cork or Dublin. That was not fair. The Government is now trying to introduce a standardised approach which seems fair and makes sense.

However, the approach the Government wants to take is a lot less than what is currently being offered, in particular in Louth. At the minute, anyone in County Louth who has gone through breast cancer is entitled to two post-surgery bras, one prosthetic, one swimming prosthetic - two if they have had bilateral surgery - and one post-surgery swimsuit. Under the new scheme that is meant to go nationwide, that will be reduced to €60 towards a post-surgery bra and €200 towards a prosthesis.

Some of the proposed changes have been outlined by Alison McCabe who said that having ladies receive their first fit following surgery in the acute hospital where the surgery took place is a very unrealistic aspiration as the breast care teams in hospital that she deals with are under extreme pressures and do not have sufficient stocks to fulfil requirements in a hospital setting. She said the change is aimed to ensure service users who are post-mastectomy do not experience an increased financial burden in accessing these items, but the reduction in the allowance for these ladies will have the complete opposite effect. Furthermore, she said the proposal does not include products for sporting, swimming, running and other activities. Swimming prosthetics and post-surgery services are currently available to post-surgery ladies, but the proposed changes will remove this element. Alison went on to ask, given that these ladies are not entitled to get into a swimming pool with their kids, if they are not entitled to engage in swimming which actually lessens the prospect of cancer coming back through the lymph nodes that have been removed.

I understand what we are trying to do and this is not necessarily something that has been done by the Minister. Rather, it is due to bureaucracy in the HSE. This happened in 2017 when the HSE tried to do the same thing. The then Minister, Deputy Harris, said, "When I became aware of the current changes, I intervened and their introduction is now deferred ... It is essential that every woman in this country in receipt of post-operative and cancer treatment supports continues to receive them" and that he wanted to be very clear, as Minister for Health, that there cannot be cuts in this area.

I am not criticising the Government or Minister for Health, who I think is doing a very good job. This is a bureaucratic decision that is being made by the HSE. This is now the third time since 2016 that there has been an attempt to make a decision and on each successive occasion a Minister had to step in. I agree with a cross-island approach to this. That is correct. There is no need to cut the services people now have in order to achieve a cross-island approach.

This is something that is very dear to my heart, in particular over the past 12 months. I have been a very strong advocate for cancer services, in particular in my county of Louth. This is something I am concerned about and I am glad the Senator before me and Senators from other parties have raised this issue. I am looking for a lot of cross-party support on this issue.

I want to welcome the visiting delegation from Canada. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I also want to join with the Cathaoirleach and the Leader of the House in paying tribute to Michael O'Regan and expressing sympathy to his family. He was a remarkable man. In many ways, when I think of John McGahern and his readings I also think of Michael O'Regan. He was a man of the earth and soil. He loved his beloved west Kerry and rural Ireland. I think of all of the political debates and banter I had with him in the canteen, where he would bring his tray up and queue in the self-service restaurant. We would talk about rural Ireland and balanced regional development, which he was passionate about. As we think about him, we should be mindful of our focus on balanced regional development across the island of Ireland and sustainable and successful rural communities, because that is what he believed in, espoused and was good at. He used his skill, talent and pen to constantly raise those concerns.

I want to raise the issue of St. John of God services. I raised it yesterday and in a Commencement matter today, for which I thank the Cathaoirleach. This is one of the most serious crises facing our care services in Ireland. We know St. John of God Community Services have the charge and care of more than 8,000 people in this State and employ more than 3,000 people. The organisation has had an ongoing battle with the HSE to have sufficient financial support and resources to provide appropriate care for its service users. That is the crux of the problem. Today, the board of St. John of God is meeting, as are people in the HSE. It is important that we resolve this matter.

In the long term, we have to ask ourselves about the impact of having one agency charged with the care of 8,000 vulnerable people in our State and the challenges around that. Are we serious about taking people out of institutional care settings? Are we really committed to community care and support? I want to acknowledge the workers, families and volunteers who continue to support the service.

In a nutshell, Senators need to challenge the mindset of keeping the doors open in terms of funding as the acceptable threshold for service delivery for St. John of God Community Services for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health services. It is simply not good enough or acceptable for the HSE to say that any of its services are breaking even. This is disappointing language and gives us an insight into the HSE's overall mindset as it equates to an acceptance that services should have to hang on by a thread.

I ask the Leader for a full debate on these matters. The timing is sensitive and it might not be appropriate to have a debate this week or next while negotiations are ongoing.

However, I want a comprehensive debate soon on St. John of God Community Services, the level and appropriateness of services provided and the funding the organisation needs to provide those services.

I raise the issue of customers in electricity arrears. Yesterday, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, released the latest round of quarterly figures, which show that just under 250,000 households are in arrears on their electricity bills and 1,385 households were disconnected for non-payment in the past year. While the drop in the number of customers in arrears in the latest quarter is welcome, the reality is more households are in arrears this year than at the same time last year. A clear pattern is also developing whereby the numbers decrease in the winter as the energy credits kick in and tick back up when the credit payments end. The problem is the numbers are not falling back to the level they were previously, which means we are seeing a year-on-year increase.

It is clear that households are being left behind. Despite falling prices, the only way to sustainably address energy poverty and arrears is through reform of the CRU. The regulator currently lacks the necessary powers to hold the significantly profitable energy companies to account. It needs the same oversight of hedging practices as its counterparts in the rest of the EU. It needs to be able to regulate standing charges because, as we know, energy companies are using those charges to hike up electricity bills. It is not just Sinn Féin saying the regulator needs more powers. The chair of the Consumers Association of Ireland has also expressed concern that the regulator does not have the powers to adequately protect customers.

In addition, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Social Justice Ireland have called for electricity and gas companies to introduce fair repayment plans for householders. This is necessary to enable people to manage their bills and exit effectively from being in arrears, instead of getting deeper into debt. It is especially important for the one in five customers currently in arrears. Another factor is that there is no credit for gas customers, which means they are all the more dependent on the regulator being given greater powers to oversee the hedging practices of the gas companies and ensure there is no price gouging by those gas suppliers.

It is concerning that we are seeing an increase in the number of people in arrears compared with this time last year. I ask for a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications on the need for the regulator have the necessary teeth to regulate the market.

I raise the issue of trains and train timetables, particularly on the Sligo-Dublin line, which serves Mullingar, Maynooth, Enfield and a number of other large towns. Before Christmas, there was an extensive review of the Cork to Dublin line, with a new service for commuters and another service now leaving Cork at 6 a.m. and arriving in Dublin before 9 a.m. There was also a review of the Drogheda line, with additional trains provided. New lines were also opened, including the Athenry line and other connecting services. However, the Sligo-Dublin line was not reviewed at all. Such a review would be more than apt and is, in fact, overdue. It should include looking at the time taken for the journey. It takes more than three hours to travel by train from Sligo to Dublin. Cork to Dublin, a journey that is 50 km or 60 km longer, takes less time. It does not make much sense. There is a need for money to be spent on line. More facilities are needed, as well as an upgrading of the timetable and a review of train speeds and the possibility of a reduction in travel times.

I join others in welcoming the Canadian delegation to the Houses. I also acknowledge the sad passing of Michael O'Regan, who was a good friend to people in Leinster House and a very pleasant individual who certainly did not forget his Kerry roots. He was a proud Kerryman who was involved in the Kerry Association here in Dublin. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Like the previous speaker, I raise issues relating to rail transport. I know this is an issue that is close to the Leader's heart. With the resumption of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the instalment of Northern Ministers, we need to see the publication of the all-island rail review and subsequently its implementation, assuming it is positive towards certain projects such as the western rail corridor. There is huge potential in that project for towns from Athenry to Tuam to Claremorris and on to Sligo. It could be a game-changer for Mayo and for Galway as well as it would encompass improved rail services from Tuam to Galway city. There is significant investment taking place in and around Athenry as part of the Oranmore-Athenry corridor. The area is ripe for further advancement, industry and job creation.

Having an improved rail service from County Mayo will allow commuters to live in various parts of the western region. We often talk about balanced regional development. The western rail corridor is a perfect example of something that can be a catalyst for balanced development in the western region. It will also improve the circumstances in the rest of country because the more pressure that is taken off areas of growth, such as Dublin, the better. I hope we can have a debate in the House on the all-island rail review once it is published. I look forward to that.

I, too, send my condolences to the family of Michael O'Regan. I met him only a few days before he passed away at SuperValu in Ballinteer. He was as feisty as ever and in great form. Everything the Cathaoirleach said about him epitomises the man he was. He would always stop and have a chat in the corridors of Leinster House.

Reading the British newspapers this morning, I must conclude that if there is an annual prize for political hypocrisy, we can close the nominations for 2024 right now. Nothing or no one could beat the Taoiseach telling delegates at the Munich Security Conference last weekend that it is important that the European Union does more when it comes to its own defence. Have colleagues ever heard anything so goddammed cynical in all their life? Most countries in Europe are spending 2% of GDP on security. Ireland is spending 0.2%. What the Taoiseach said is outrageous. The laughter must have been heard all over Europe as he made that statement. We really have to get our act together.

I read this morning about CybExer Technologies in Estonia. I have been involved in a number of delegations to Estonia to discuss setting up cyber awareness programmes in Ireland. I am glad to see that moving forward at pace. There were 493.33 million ransomware attacks in 2022. The number of such attacks is growing exponentially. We really have to get serious about defence. It is not all about military boots on the ground. It is about technology, or the lack of technology, in this country. We have no radar or sonar capability. I spoke to a senior military person in Europe a couple of days ago who observed that Ireland is reforming its Defence Forces. Is there anything we reformed other than the approach to interpersonal relationships, specifically bullying and sexual harassment? This person said to me, "I would love to think we are going to see some actual military reforms taking place." I will leave it at that as the Cathaoirleach has indicated my time is up.

It was a pleasure to have President Franklin in the Houses. I also welcome that the Speaker of the Senate of Canada and her delegation are with us today.

I wish to be associated with the very appropriate remarks regarding the late Michael O'Regan.

I raise the question of funding support for amateur theatre and musicals. As Members probably know, the amateur theatre festival circuit is about to begin.

Drama groups throughout the country are preparing to compete in festivals with the hope of reaching the all-island finals. Musical societies are also very active throughout the country. During the Covid period, funds were made available to the national representative associations, such as the Drama League of Ireland, the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland and the Association of Irish Musical Societies, to support the work they do, not least during the Covid period, and this was channelled through the Arts Council. That funding was not made available in 2023 and we still have uncertainty as to whether there will be any funding for 2024. In all our communities, amateur theatre and musicals play a vital role.

I sit on the Oireachtas arts committee and we have been looking for some time at the issue of how to support voluntary and community arts. I have suggested, and I anticipate that in our report we will recommend, the establishment of an arts capital and equipment programme along the lines of the sports capital and equipment programme. Will the Leader please raise with the Minister for the arts the funding support that was committed for those national organisations and amateur theatre and musicals throughout the country? We might also have a debate, perhaps on foot of the report of our committee, about how we can support community and voluntary arts throughout the country.

I too would like to be associated with the many tributes to the late Michael O'Regan. When I was first elected to the House, Michael took an interest in my story and career. Every time I met him, he had an inquisitive mind about County Clare and its politics and would regale me with many stories of former legendary political figures in County Clare with whom he had engaged. His passing is too soon and his wisdom will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.

Like other speakers, I would like a debate on public transport, especially the rail network. I acknowledge the very good work being done by Jim Meade and his team at Iarnród Éireann. There is now a 6 a.m. train to the Cathaoirleach's city, Cork, that gets in before 9 a.m., so if people need to go to Cork for a day's business, whether from Dublin, Thurles, Limerick or even Ennis, they can be there in time, given all those lines feed into the Cork line. You can now leave Ennis in the morning and be in Cork before 9 o'clock. Nevertheless, we need significant investment in electric rail lines and we need much greater speed. I travel by train all the time, because I do not drive, so I come to Dublin on the train on a Tuesday and go home on a Thursday. I have been doing that since I was first elected to the House in 2011, and I have noticed the trains are now practically full all the time, not just in the morning or the evening. When I have occasion to travel during the day, the trains are full then as well. It is a mode of transport that is working, and if we are looking for a green environment and trying to reach our emissions target, investment in rail is good.

I join Senators in extending my sincere condolences to the family of Michael O'Regan, The Irish Times and his friends and colleagues in journalism. May eternal rest be granted to him. Michael was a very pleasant man and it was always nice to deal with him. He had a lovely voice and interesting things to say. Like every good journalist, it was not just a matter of him telling war stories. He was eager to get information to feed into his informed analysis of various issues. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Political correspondents and journalists who ask questions of powerful people in government serve society very well and play an important role, and it is important that a reciprocal courtesy be extended to them. The courtesy we expect from them should also be shown to them. In that regard, I did not like what I saw online yesterday, although there are two sides to every story. It was the apparent blanking of a journalist from Gript by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, at a press conference. As I said, there are two sides to every story, but I checked with the people at Gript to see what had happened. Journalists’ questions are taken in the order in which they put up their hand. In this case, the journalist Ben Scallan offered a question at the end and the Taoiseach could be seen just gathering up his documents, and Micheál Martin doing the same, and leaving. Then Eamon Ryan, who is a model of courtesy, looked a little shocked but seemed to feel the need to do likewise.

Even a hurried word of apology from the Taoiseach to say he could not reach the journalist that day but that there would be another time would have been acceptable, but we do not want any suspicion or suggestion that there are people who are less in favour with the people in power than others. You do not have to like Gript or agree with everything written in its opinion pieces to recognise it represents a considerable portion of the public and asks questions, very often, that others do not seem to be asking. It may well be, given that the Taoiseach was a little bad tempered to an Irish Independent journalist yesterday, that it was an off day, but we do not want the Xi Jinping approach. When his deputy was here in Ireland, there were not even questions from the media. Members of the Government need to be seen to be always open to questions, even from the people they do not like.

I join the Cathaoirleach in paying tribute to the late Michael O'Regan, his wife and his two daughters on their sad loss. I am sure it was a source of great pride to him that his daughters joined him in the world of journalism, at the BBC and The Washington Post. He started his career at The Kerryman, which at the time was probably one of the most pre-eminent provincial newspapers and remains to this day one of the most important newspapers. He covered controversial issues such as the Kerry babies case and wrote a book about the appalling treatment of that family at that time by the forces of the State. He was not a man to hold back and always called it as he saw it, but with a great deal of humour, as the President pointed out in his tribute to Michael on his passing. He always knew when to inject a sense of humour, even at the heaviest moments in Irish politics. He always held power to account and talked about the need for journalism to take on the institutions of the State when necessary.

After leaving Leinster House and the political pool in the press gallery, in which he had sat for many years, he had the “Call from the Dáil” on Radio Kerry every Friday, which was regularly one of the contributions most listened to on the station that most Kerry people, and Cork people as well, listen to. Jerry O'Sullivan, the morning show presenter, would go through with great insight, as Michael always had, the politics of not just Kerry but also Leinster House and, indeed, throughout the world. To his family, his many friends and his colleagues in the media industry and journalism, I express our deepest sympathies from this House and from all the people of Kerry on the loss of a great man from west Kerry, of which he was immensely proud. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

I welcome the students from St. Brendan’s College in Belmullet, County Mayo, to the Gallery. They are ably represented by our Leader, Senator Chambers, who is flying the Mayo flag here in Leinster House. I thank them for being here and hope they will have a good visit and learn something positive from their engagement with us.

I welcome the group from Mayo. I was going to talk about Irish Water but I want to return to the comments of Senator Mullen. I do have respect for the Senator, but it is very disturbing that he would see the Chamber as a fit place in which to raise his concerns. When he says there are two sides to a story, perhaps he should go to the other side to find out the story before he raises it in this forum.

They are not alone as journalists who do not get questions answered sometimes. To portray them as these individuals who are not being answered is totally untrue. Every week, politicians, Ministers and the Taoiseach answer questions - no matter how ridiculous some are - from the floor. It is very disingenuous.

I wish to raise an issue I have raised numerous times in this House, which relates to Irish Water and if we could have a debate with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, about it. There is outage after outage of water services in Clonmel. People are at their wits' end. People are coming to and ringing our office the whole time. Sometimes, it might take four or five days to solve the problem and then it is gone again in two days. Clonmel has the most outages and disturbances of water services in the country. The communication between Irish Water and public representatives, particularly councillors, is almost non-existent. It is just not acceptable any more. We need the Minister to come to the House to explain exactly why Irish Water cannot solve the problems in Clonmel. I am aware of an elderly gentleman who has to go to another house to be washed and cleaned because he does not have a water supply in his area. It is the most important issue in Clonmel. I would like it to be prioritised.

I join with others in expressing my sympathies with the wife, daughters and extended family of Michael O'Regan. I always followed him as a journalist and I enjoyed him as a journalist. When I came to Leinster House in 2016, I got to know him really well. We became good friends. There was always a good bit of slagging between Patsy McGarry, also a well-known journalist, Michael and I about football and other things. As they would say in parts of the west, he was full of divilment. He was a really good journalist. The Kerry babies case has been mentioned. Every time it came up, it angered him how that case turned out and the disturbing situation that arose. He was a very important journalist in that whole situation.

If I can, with the 50 seconds left, I ask that the Minister with responsibility, Deputy Ryan, come to the House to talk about retrofitting of houses and changes that perhaps need to be made to the scheme. It is taking too long. Some people do not need the retrofitting. I often wish we went back to the simpler ways of getting doors and windows, draughts put out and insulation put in to attics and walls, particularly for older people who will never see this work done unless we change the goalposts. There are many poor houses, as my colleagues know, in rural Ireland. It is a terrible thing in today's world to walk into a house and see mould growing on the walls. It should not be happening in an Ireland that is so wealthy. Every effort should be put into making sure that within a couple of months, those houses are made draught-free change and the changes are made to them. Some are very old. Let us make the basic changes that leave those people comfortable for the years they have left in their lives. Let us not put them on schemes that may not develop for three or four years.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Leader. I rise today to congratulate TUS, the Technological University of the Shannon, on its receipt of a QS 5 Star rating. It is the highest possible number of stars a university can receive. It will be among the top-rated universities of the world. It received five stars in all categories assessed. It is the first university in Ireland to receive five stars for arts and culture. I compliment Mike Fitzpatrick and his team. I also congratulate Vincent Cunnane and the team that leads TUS. It makes it a very influential and credible university. Some 100 jobs were announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, on Friday in Limerick for Carelon Global Solutions. I congratulate John Patrick Shaw and his team on that. I recall when the company started off with 60 employees. By the end of the year, it will have 320. It is down to the high standard of education between TUS, the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College. Having three third-level, high-quality leaders in their fields in Limerick and the region is helping innovation and job creation.

I join the tributes to the late Michael O'Regan and extend my sympathies to his wife and family. When I first came to the House, Michael also stopped up to say hello. He was a very nice man. He took a great interest in where everybody came from and their story in how they came to be here. He died far too young. My thoughts are with his wife and family. I am thinking of them all at this sad time.

I too wish to be associated with our condolences and sympathies with the family of Michael O'Regan. I did not know him myself but I followed him on Twitter. He had some very nice things to say about my father over the years, which I am always grateful to read. He struck me as part of that generation of journalists who never took peace for granted on this island. It was in that context that his contributions were very much welcome because we now live in an era in which we sometimes gloss over how difficult it was to even get into a peace process and the sacrifices people made. Sometimes, I feel history sees it through the lens of two sides - green versus orange - when most of us were pushing for peace. That is sometimes forgotten. Michael was not someone who forgot that.

On that, I got the tail-end of some remarks by Senator Mullen in relation to another media outlet. I have been at press conferences and media doughnuts where all journalists are firing questions. It is like the end of an exam - you only put down your pencil when you have to. Sometimes, questions do not get answered but that is okay. Every journalist, I would imagine, has been in that position. If that is the first time that media outlet has been in that position, that is probably a good position. I would not take it personally. We have a fine calibre of journalists in this country and a good relationship with them. It is important that we all sustain it, on both sides of the equation.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome to the Chamber Anna McBrearty, a 16-year-old young woman on a placement with me from County Donegal. Yesterday, I said to her to write up something that is really important to her and we will bring it up on the Order of Business. Anna wanted to talk about the publication of the annual report card by the Children's Rights Alliance around mental health. She expressed her disappointment in how the Government has failed young children with regard to mental health. While there has been some progress in poverty, school books and free school lunches, etc., Anna is very worried about children's mental health. This morning, we call for a debate on the report published by the Children's Rights Alliance around children's mental health. We are failing children.

We cannot continue to do that. That is my ask this morning. It is for young people like Anna from Donegal and for young rural children dealing with the crisis. The Leader is from a rural county herself and she knows how difficult it is for children in rural communities. It is an important debate that needs to be had as soon as possible. It is about mental health in general, and especially the mental health of children and young people in this country.

I welcome Anna to the Public Gallery and thank her for her engagement with Senator Flynn and for outlining an important issue of mental health and the score card. I thank her very much indeed. I hope she had a good week or two weeks of work experience and that it has instilled in her a love of politics, public affairs and public service. Congratulations.

I thank Members who contributed today. Anna and her friend are very welcome to the Gallery. Good luck with your work experience here in Leinster House with Senator Flynn.

This morning, Senator O'Loughlin raised the issue of post-mastectomy products and their availability and the community scheme that is funded to provide those products to women who have had mastectomies. The issue was also raised by Senator John McGahon. My understanding is that the scheme was only available to those on medical cards. It will now be a universal scheme extended to all women. I think there is an acceptance that what has been announced represents a reduction in funding in some areas of the country. It was the case that in some parts of the country, people got everything that was available, and in other parts, they got less than that. I certainly support a universal scheme and a standardisation. Everyone should be brought up to the highest level, not brought down to the lowest level. The challenge is to make sure that anybody who has had this traumatic surgery should not be at a loss when getting a swimsuit, a bra or a prosthetic as needed to cope with what has happened. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, is looking at this now he has become aware of it. I am sure that many of us cross-party would push for that scheme to do the best for women right across the country.

Senator O'Loughlin also raised the issue of women experiencing alopecia, since the hairpiece, wig or grant would not be available in those circumstances. I absolutely think that it should be. That is a traumatic thing for a woman to go through and that support should be made available. I give the same response to Senator McGahon. The issue was raised with him by Alison McCabe, who runs a business in Louth, helping women who are getting fitted. She has given some practical advice on how the scheme can work better for those who she cares for.

Senator Boyhan raised the issue of Saint John of God's Community Services. I understand the Senator debated a Commencement matter this morning and received a full reply from the Minister in that regard. I take on board the comments he made about the importance of the service and the vast number of patients, some 8,000, receiving services there.

Senator Lynn Boylan raised the issue of electricity arrears. They persist in many households. The Government has done quite a lot, particularly over the past couple of years, in cost-of-living measures, with electricity credits that every household in the country received. I think most people will agree that, in the face of an extraordinary challenge, with soaring energy costs across Europe, not just in Ireland, that the Government did a good job at easing the burden of those increases. While we cannot do everything and completely offset the entirety of the cost increase, the vast majority of households received a substantial reduction in their bill because of that credit.

Senator Davitt asked for a review of the Sligo-Dublin train line in light of a review of the Cork-Dublin line having taken place. He has advocated for a more frequent service and I certainly support that call from Senator Davitt.

Senator Kyne raised the issue, as has been raised previously, of the all-island rail review that we are awaiting. A draft report was published and we now await the full publication of the report. We had been awaiting the restoration of power-sharing in the North and an executive and ministers in the North. We have that now, so I certainly support the Senator's calls. We want to see the western rail corridor restored, as has been advocated for many decades now.

Senator Craughwell raised a couple of issues. He drew attention to a comment by the Taoiseach. I will not get into personalised comments back and forth. The general point he was raising was the need to better invest in security and defence in Ireland and that we currently spend 0.2% of GDP on security and defence in the State, in comparison to most other countries, which spend approximately 2% of GDP. We are an outlier in that regard. He also said that the Defence Forces review and reform is limited to cultural reform as opposed to a reform of how the Defence Forces are run overall. I would certainly concur with those remarks too, although a review of the culture in the Defence Forces is hugely important.

Senator Malcolm Byrne has asked for funding for voluntary drama and theatre, since funding was made available during the Covid period. He is right that they are active across the country. A comparison is often made with the level of funding made available to sports clubs and it is said that a similar level of funding should be available for drama and theatre outfits too. Many children and people are involved in those outfits, which bring much joy to communities across the board.

Senator Martin Conway raised the issue of rail transport and said there was a greater need for investment in rail transport, as any train he has been on personally seems to be full at any time of the day. It is important that we invest in the mode of transport that people want to travel in. I certainly agree with those remarks.

I am aware of the video that Senator Mullen referred to. The issue was also raised by Senators Ahearn and Currie. Both sides are probably quite represented here today with regard to what may or may not have happened. I was not present at the press conference. I have been at other press conferences. It is quite normal for some questions not to get answered. My understanding is that time had been called on the press conference and usually when that happens, those at the press conference who are there to answer questions tend to move off the platform or the stage. Journalists often shout up, hoping that they might get a question answered at that stage. I am only assuming, since I was not there. If that is what happened, that would be normal conduct at a press conference. From what I can see online, many questions from that particular journalist do get answered, even if they are challenging and difficult. I agree with Senator Mullen's point that it is important that politicians are open and available to answer questions, even the ones they do not like or which challenge them the most. Ireland ranks as probably one of the best countries in the world for our openness and transparency in our media, and our access by journalists to politicians. We rank and rate very well in that regard. Long may that continue.

Senator Mark Daly extended his sympathies to Michael O'Regan and his family, as did many other colleagues, including Senator Conway. There were some lovely comments for Michael. We will all miss his wit and his informed analysis of political life and life in general. As I said at the outset, he was a fine journalist. We all enjoyed his commentary. He was still very much involved in Irish political life. Senator Maria Byrne is right that he died far too young. It is very difficult for his family. We wish them the very best in this difficult period ahead.

Senator Garret Ahearn raised the issue of Irish Water in Clonmel, as he has on many occasions. I am sure the Senator has tabled Commencement matters on this at this point. If he has not, I suggest that he does, as it is quite a specific question about Clonmel and the area there.

Senator Eugene Murphy raised an issue about retrofitting. I will ask for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the issue. I agree that we have very ambitious targets to reach for retrofitting. Many older people just are not engaging in that process because it is still quite expensive, even with the loans and grants available. It is a challenge to get tradespeople to carry out the work, because one must be registered with SEAI to avail of that grant. That is problematic. I have raised those issues with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on occasion. It would be a good debate to have. We are all keen to see the retrofitting programme succeed, particularly for older, vulnerable people who tend to be in older housing, whose bills would be reduced because of retrofitting. That is all a shared ambition. We will request that debate. I think there is good news to share from that Department. It might also be of benefit to hear some of the practical experiences of people from the floor here about how we might improve that scheme for people across the country.

Senator Maria Byrne congratulated the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS, on its QS 5 star rating. I extend my congratulations to the university. It is a fantastic achievement. It is still in its infancy as a university, so it is great that it is advancing at such a great speed. I commend the delivery of 100 jobs to Limerick, as announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond.

Senator Emer Currie spoke about Michael O'Regan. She also spoke about his passion and commitment to peace on the island and mentioned that he never forgot the struggles of achieving peace. He often had a kind word for her own father, which she very much appreciated.

Senator Eileen Flynn raised the issue of youth mental health and the recent report of the Children's Rights Alliance. The Senator rightly acknowledged that much work has been done by this Government on youth mental health, but there is of course work still to be done and I think we will all agree with those remarks. There are many challenges still facing children in the State, including new challenges.