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Vol. 277 Monday, No. 7 28 June 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 28/06/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 475 28/06/2021A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 476 28/06/2021A00350Domestic Violence � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 476 28/06/2021B00500Fishing Industry � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 478 28/06/2021C00400Environmental Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 481 28/06/2021D00650Horticulture Sector � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 483 28/06/2021E00400Schools Building Projects � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 485 28/06/2021F00450Thalidomide Victims Compensation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 488 28/06/2021Q00700Worker Co-Operatives and Right To Buy Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 506 28/06/2021T00100Public Service Pay Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 507 28/06/2021EE00100Planning and Development (Amendment) (No� 3) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � 508 28/06/2021ZZ00100Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 542 28/06/2021EEE00100Planning and Development (Solar Panels for Public Buildings, Schools, Homes and Other Premises) (Amend- ment) Bill 2021: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 549 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Luain, 28 Meitheamh 2021 Monday, 28 June 2021 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 28/06/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 28/06/2021A00200An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Róisín Garvey that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Justice to make a statement on the issues highlighted in the internal Garda investigation into the cancellation of domestic violence 999 calls� I have also received notice from Senator John Cummins of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline when Dun- more East will be included as a designated landing port for Northern Ireland and British- based fishing vessels. I have also received notice from Senators Erin McGreehan and Vincent P� Martin of the fol- lowing matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to ban the importation of non-native honeybees into the Republic of Ireland� I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on the harvesting ban on peat and the need to import high-grade peat to keep the mushroom industry alive� I have also received notice from Senator Marie Sherlock of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the construction of a new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, 4 Cearnóg Parnell, Baile Átha Cliath 1� I have also received notice from Senator Barry Ward of the following matter: 475 Seanad Éireann The need for the Minister for Health to put in place a fair and equitable compensation scheme for, and to make an apology to, the victims of thalidomide� I have also received notice from Senator Malcolm Byrne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to outline the measures being put in place to support the leaving certificate class of 2022. I have also received notice from Senator Gerard Craughwell of the following matter The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the provision of an overseas allowance for Irish citizens who represent Ireland as secondees to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, special monitoring mission in Ukraine� I have also received notice from Senator Mary Seery Kearney of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the progress of Drimnagh primary care centre in Dublin 12� I have also received notice from Senator Mary Fitzpatrick of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the extension of vehicle life for taxis and the grant for electrical to hybrid vehicle upgrade� I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Rural and Community Development to make a statement on her Department’s plan to increase funding for rural recreational officers to enable the administration of the rural recreation and walks scheme in west Cork� I have also received notice from Senator Seán Kyne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on her plans to ex- tend the free travel pass� Of the matters raised by the Senators suitable for discussion, I have selected Senators Gar- vey, Cummins, McGreehan and Martin, who will be sharing time, and Senators Gallagher, Sherlock and Ward and they will be taken now� The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise� 28/06/2021A00300Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 28/06/2021A00350Domestic Violence 28/06/2021A00400Senator Róisín Garvey: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House� She has pressing matters to deal with so I thank her for taking my Commencement matter� She is prob- ably as shocked as me at the revelations from the internal Garda investigation into the cancella- tion of domestic violence 999 calls� When I got wind of it, I got really upset because I sit on the joint policing committee in Clare and we have seen domestic violence figures greatly increase during the Covid pandemic� We all know that existing supports badly need extra infrastructure 476 28 June 2021 and funding� According to the internal investigation, calls are being treated with a lack of em- pathy or are not being responded to� Calls that are responded to are not properly documented or followed up on and the cancellations have had an effect on the collection of important data and statistics on domestic violence, which is a huge issue on every level of our society� Some 3,120 domestic violence calls were marked as cancelled� There were valid reasons for cancelling one third of those, but that was not the case with the other two thirds� It is just not good enough� We need to look at why this happened in the first place and what is needed to ensure that it does not happen again� Are additional resources needed? Do members of the Garda need extra training so they know how to show empathy? A person in a domestic violence situation is very disempowered because he or she has put up with it in the first place. It takes a lot of courage to pick up the phone to lodge a complaint� Often, that happens at the very tail end of a long history of emotional and physical violence� Much mental anguish, disempowerment and lack of self-value comes with domestic abuse, so when someone is making that call the last thing he or she needs is somebody who is flippant, does not show empathy or does not follow up. It is great the Garda held the internal investigation but it has highlighted some serious issues� Those issues need to be rectified. I hope the Minister of State can answer some of the questions that have arisen� What do we need to do about this issue and about the greater issue of increasing levels of domestic violence? 28/06/2021A00500Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton): I thank Senator Garvey for raising this important issue� I am acutely aware of the vulnerable and often frightening position that callers suffering domestic abuse, and indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, are in� Any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls is a very serious concern and falls significantly below the high standards the public expects of the Garda as well as the standards An Garda Síochána should set for itself� I acknowledge the concerns voiced by victims and those who advocate for them in response to this recent news� I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse or whose personal safety was otherwise at risk and who sought assistance via a 999 call may not have received it� The Senator will be aware that the Garda Commissioner has publicly apolo- gised for this, and was correct to do so� An Garda Síochána fell short of the high standards the public expects of the Garda� The Garda Commissioner has assured me and the Minister for Justice, Deputy Humphreys, that when someone calls 999 now, he or she can expect and trust that An Garda Síochána will help. This must always be the case. I can confirm that the Garda Commissioner has put new processes in place, strengthening