I was very glad to see our local party members from Dublin 9 and 11 in the Chamber to witness part of this debate because they live within the vicinity of, and would be connected with, Beaumont Hospital. Senator Boyhan mentioned that there is a shortage of 15 neurological nurses in that particular hospital along with the many other shortages he outlined. I thank the Senator and Senator McDowell for their presentation. They were very instructive. I also thank the Patients Deserve Better campaign for the wonderful wo…

Before the Minister of State responds, I welcome the students from Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad who are sitting in the Public Gallery. They are very welcome to Leinster House and I hope they will have a lovely trip. Perhaps someday one of them will sit in this Chamber as a Senator.

I want to make a brief comment, which will be my only comment today because I am also concerned about the limited time we have. The sentiments expressed by colleagues across the House are very right and fitting. It is worth noting that protests outside hospitals not only intimidate the women, their partners and other support, who are accessing termination services, they intimidate everybody going into that facility. Pregnancy is a very complicated time in a woman's life. A lot of things can go right and a lot can g…

I said I would not make any further contributions but I feel compelled to comment further. I am happy to virtue signal my enthusiastic support for safe access zones. There is nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with showing strong support for something. With regard to the issue of religion being demonised, that is not the case at all. I am a religious person, as I have always said, but I do not believe there is any conflict between my religious position and trying to support women accessing healthcare. …

We do not have to sit and listen to this.

On Tuesday, 26 April 2022.

Now.

I thank the Minister for taking time out of his schedule to update us. Thankfully, Covid-19 has in one sense blended into the background of all the other political issues and is not the main political issue. However, we all know that it is still a concern in our hospitals and communities. While the case numbers are high, we are not seeing as many people get as sick. That is a result of the success of the roll-out of the vaccination programme, which was overwhelmingly successful in this country. People bought into i…

Ba mhaith liom fáilte ó chroí a chur roimh Linda. Is iontach an rud é go bhfuil sí linn chun Seachtain na Gaeilge a cheiliúradh agus is iontach an rud é a scéal a chloisteáil. Tá a cuid oibre thar na blianta ar son a pobail agus ar son a teanga in oirthear Bhéal Feirste inspioráideach. Molaim go hard í as an sárobair seo. Briseann an obair sin baic agus cruthaítear tuiscint agus caoinfhulaingt. Bíonn Linda ag déanamh obair trasphobail agus tá sí ag athrú an mheoin atá ag daoine faoin nGaeilge, rud atá soiléir ón mh…

Before I address the matter I planned to raise, I want to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We all woke up to the horrifying news that an invasion had occurred overnight. I send my solidarity to the Ukrainian ambassador, all Ukrainian nationals living in Ireland and everyone living in Ukraine, including Irish people who are still within the country's borders. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address my Commencement matter. I had directed it at the Department of Transport but I u…

That is positive to hear but I still believe a feasibility study should be undertaken in conjunction with the Minister of State's Department and the Department of Transport. It is not acceptable that workers and people using public transport are being attacked and feel vulnerable and that women are avoiding public transport. It needs to be a safe space for women. You are particularly vulnerable if you are on a bus or in a carriage on a DART and something kicks off, especially when you take into account that Irish R…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to talk about this important issue. There is not one of us who was not shocked and horrified by the story of the many children who were failed by the CAMHS system in Kerry. It was absolutely shocking and heartbreaking to think that these children, in trouble with their health and needing support, not only did not get support but that further harm was actually done to them. That is shocking and horrifying. Parents from other parts of the country have contacted me worried …

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this important matter. As the Minister of State knows, the cornerstone of decent society is access to justice. Civil legal aid plays a crucial role in this access to justice. A review of the civil legal aid system in Ireland is long overdue. Demand for a root-and-branch review grew over the years, because it became apparent that there was an unmet legal need. Last summer, it was announced that a review would take place in the third quarter of 2021. I believe i…

I am pleased to hear that the review will commence in the coming weeks. Could the Minister of State confirm that the review group will be chaired by a judge or somebody of similar standing with an interest in public law and access to justice? I am a little concerned because the Minister of State referred a couple of times to "the finite resources available". For a civil legal aid system to work, it must be properly resourced. I accept every Department works within finite resources, but in the current climate where …

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the very important issue of GP visit cards for six and seven year-olds. As she knows, GP visit cards for those aged under six were introduced a number of years ago and have been a very helpful mechanism for parents to access free GP healthcare for their children. Children can get very sick very frequently when they are young. Having free GP visits ensures that no family has to work out how sick a child is before it must bring him or her to the doctor …

I know the Minister of State would be very much aware of the pressures on families and how important free GP visits have been for families to date. I am disappointed that no date has been given for this expansion. It is very welcome that it is acknowledged that it needs to happen urgently. I know negotiations can be sensitive and I am also aware of the pressures faced by our GPs over the past 12 months but these children are patients of those practices and will be accessing the service in any event. All we are doin…

It is great to be in the Seanad among like-minded colleagues who have worked for many years to improve women's healthcare. It is also great to have our guests from Together for Safety in the Gallery. I thank them for all of the work they have done, not only on this legislation but also on keeping this important issue on the political agenda. I look forward to getting a timeline from the Minister setting out how we can protect workers and the people who seek to access services. We must make sure we have a fit-for-pu…

On a point of order, an independent chair means independent of Government, not independent of the issue.

I think most people who would have a knowledge of medical concerns would agree with-----

It is independent of Government; that is what it is.