I ask that we respectfully request the Minister for Justice, Deputy Humphreys, to come to the House to debate antisocial behaviour and protecting our local communities. I make that request cognisant that there are many reasons for antisocial behaviour. I am a member of the joint policing committee in Cork city and it has become clear there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour. This issue is becoming a concern not just in our capital city but also in Cork and other parts of the country. I want to have that d…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I commend Senator Garvey and the Green Party on tabling the motion. The Minister of State has been love-bombed by the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, on a cruise in the Seanad and there is a party that wants to love-bomb him to Cork to ensure our flood defence scheme will be put in place. To be fair to him, we commend him on his work, interest, vigilance and strident approach to flooding. Senator Garvey stated we cannot afford to wait and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett…

I join Senator Ahearn and other Senators in calling for a debate prior to next week's Cabinet meeting on the reopening of the country. I ask the Leader to convene the House early for such a debate. There is a rising number of Covid cases and, to paraphrase, the virus is on a new trajectory. It is important that all of us use appropriate language. Statistics do not lie. Dr. Anne O'Connor stated that the 10% of the adult population who are unvaccinated are driving 50% of admissions in hospitals. That is a stark figur…

I welcome the Minister to the House. This is actually a very important debate. I commend Senator Higgins on her contribution. The backdrop is that the European Commission will publish next week its economic impact statement on the effect of the pandemic on the European economy and its implications for member states. I am acutely conscious that there are differing ideologies in this debate but, to be fair to the Minister for Finance, he has been steadfast in his approach and held a steady line. Our country has benef…

I pay tribute and join my colleagues in lamenting the loss of Paddy Maloney. He was an extraordinarily talented person and musician who brought music to a new level. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. I join my colleague, Senator Conway, in his remarks on the budgetary process. Budget day is now redundant. In this House, we created a budgetary oversight committee for the oversight of the budget, from a fiscal and macro point of view. We should, as an Oireachtas and a Government, whoever is in power, look at budget …

It was extraordinary no members of the Opposition were in the House for the budget speech last night. Nobody was here.

The Opposition benches were idle. They were empty for the budget speeches yesterday.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council described this budget as a prudent path. That is probably what we need to see today. We acknowledge the many challenges that we face as a society. This morning on the Order of Business, I commented that our budgetary process should be amended. I said that in three contexts. Almost everything that was in yesterday's budget has been well promulgated. Budgetary oversight and our role as Members of the Oireachtas must be amended for future budgets in …

I welcome the Minister to the House. He has had a busy morning. I watched him attending the meeting of the Joint Committee on Health. It is important we continue to pioneer reform. I commend him on the appointment of the two new chairs of Sláintecare. His presentation this morning to the committee is one we should reflect upon as opposed to some of the populist commentary we have heard from some on other benches who do not care about the outcome other than what they can get in the newspapers and the headlines in th…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my matter. The Minister of State is welcome to the House. As we emerge into a post-Covid-19 world, a traffic reinstatement support scheme for our airports is important, as is aviation recovery. Route development, reinstatement and retention is what I am referring to and, in particular, the need for financial supports to be given to our airports and to be used to attract new business. I make no apology for being an advocate for not only Cork Airport, but all our airports. Prio…

I thank the Minister of State for her response, and in particular, the last line of her response in which she stated that her Department is open and assessing options for further supports. At the launch in Cork of the Ryanair base and new flights, Mr. Eddie Wilson remarked that Dublin Airport could see a fall in Ryanair passenger numbers by 35% next summer, as the DAA traffic recovery scheme does not have the required funding from Government to incentivise air traffic recovery. The important point is that we must a…

I commend Senator McGreehan on her initiative. I am happy to change my tie to pink. I missed the memo. I ask the Cathaoirleach and Leader for a debate on foreign affairs in the coming weeks, in particular in light of our membership of the United Nations Security Council and given that we, as an island nation, share the values of peace and of upholding human rights and international law. It is important that we have a debate on our One-China policy in light of the record number of incursions into Taiwanese airspace …

Hear, hear.

I wish to comment on this section, in the context of the articles of association and the appointment by the Minister. It is important that in the overarching debate we have and will have on aviation policy, that there is a reflection on the composition of the board of the Dublin Airport Authority and that there would be a recognition and an acknowledgement that there are airports beyond Dublin. I make this point in the context of what we are trying to achieve in this Bill. There is an absolute need for somebody fro…

That is correct. One may argue the point and say that I am being very parochial and I take the point in the spirit that it is being made by Senator Boylan, but I am making this point. I have every confidence in the Dublin Airport Authority and great respect and admiration for its chief executive, Dalton Philips. However, I am of the view that the second busiest airport in the country is Cork Airport. Pre-Covid-19, the growth in passenger numbers in Cork Airport was better than in Dublin and was exponential. The Cat…

The issue of appointments is a bugbear of mine and I know Senator Craughwell will agree with me. In this case, it is about Members of the Oireachtas and Members of the European Parliament. If a member of a local authority is considered for an appointment, he or she should not be overlooked just because he or she is a member of a local authority. In other legislation, we have precluded members of local authorities from certain positions. I very much welcome, if I am correct, that they are not precluded in this legis…

Those of us who are members of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications have received a number of emails. You may not have had knowledge that the culture within the IAA was not good. However, when you investigate and speak to people, you become cognisant of it. To be fair, that is not the fault of the Minister of State. I do not necessarily think that the amendment put forward is the right approach but proactive engagement is critical. I am not sure if I am allowed to mention people but our committee ask…

The Minister of State's reply gives us an answer in the context of what we can achieve. The Minister of State's bona fides should be accepted on this. There is a win in terms of a new board, a new independent regulator, a new CEO and stakeholder engagement. The Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, should meet with a representative body of air traffic controllers because there seems to be permeating through the organisation a culture of fear and harassment. The safety culture which the Minister of State …

I hope that she will.

I acknowledge the Minister of State's response but the in-house mediation has failed and there is no confidence. The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications has proposed that an independent mediator should be appointed. She can correct me if I am wrong but I understand that Fórsa is willing to come to the table. The Government should intervene and say that there is an issue that cannot be resolved in-house. The Minister of State used the words "binding resolution" and we have seen what happened when that wa…