Seanad Éireann

Vol. 274 Monday, No. 6 15 February 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 15/02/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 404 15/02/2021B00200Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 405 15/02/2021B00250State Examinations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 405 15/02/2021E00150Human Rights � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 408 15/02/2021F00600Rural Regeneration and Development Fund � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 411 15/02/2021J00200Local Authority Members � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 413 15/02/2021L00700Covid-19 Pandemic � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 416 15/02/2021N00250Pyrite Incidence � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 418 An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 421 15/02/2021GG00400Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 436 15/02/2021HH00100Defence (Restriction on Use of Certain Titles) Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 436 15/02/2021HH00900Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 437 15/02/2021HH01200Appointments to Policing Authority: Motions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 437 15/02/2021NN00100Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 438 15/02/2021VV00100Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 443 15/02/2021XXX00100Remote Working Strategy: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 458 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Luain, 15 Feabhra 2021 Monday, 15 February 2021 Chuaigh an Cathaoirlach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 15/02/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 15/02/2021B00100An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Mary Fitzpatrick that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the arrangements being put in place for the leaving certificate examinations in 2021. I have also received notice from Senators Malcolm Byrne and Barry Ward of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the detention of pro-democracy and human rights activists in Hong Kong and on the operation of the na- tional security law by the Chinese Government in Hong Kong� I have also received notice from Senator Micheál Carrigy of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Rural and Community Development to allocate funding to Drumlish go green centre, County Longford, under the rural regeneration and development fund 2020� I have also received notice from Senator Marie Sherlock of the following matter: The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for planning and local government to provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Moorhead report on the role and remuneration of local authority elected members� I have received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to make a statement on the regulation of the essential use of Airbnb in Ireland under level 5 restrictions� 404 15 February 2021 I have received notice from Senator Regina Doherty of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to expand the pyrite remediation scheme to dwellings constructed prior to 1997 in north County Dublin� The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and they will be taken now� 15/02/2021B00200Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 15/02/2021B00250State Examinations 15/02/2021B00300Senator Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for attending� Anybody watching will be disappointed that the Minister for Education is not here but I understand this is because she is participating in the talks to try to finalise arrangements for the leaving certificate examinations� From the start of the pandemic, which was almost a year ago, until now, 15 February, the Government has prioritised protecting lives and livelihoods� The allocation of €9 billion in the budget for education indicated that investment in both children and their education is a strong priority of the Government� For young people, this has been a really stressful year� We have had 12 months of a pandemic but young people have been living with it in a different way from adults� Young people, within their own families, have had to deal with the impact of infection� More than 200,000 people have been infected� Young people have had to live with the impact of their parents’ loss of income and employment, and they have had to live with changed cir- cumstances whereby they are trying to be educated remotely� I accept that there has been an improvement in this lockdown by comparison with the previous one in terms of the delivery of remote teaching but remote teaching is no substitute for classroom learning� The Minister of State would agree with that� He did very well from the point of view of education� He is a graduate of Trinity College and he also holds degrees from overseas� Therefore, he understands the value of education and how important the leaving certificate is for young people. The members of the class of 2021 have lost five months of their senior cycle and have been denied the emotional and social supports that come with being in a classroom or in their school� They have been struggling to connect with broadband� Broadband is oversubscribed in many households because it is being used by siblings and parents who are trying to work� Many leaving certificate subjects have a practical component. Students in the class of 2021 have been denied the opportunity to have a practical learning experience. It is not just formal teaching they are missing out on; they are also missing out on informal learning from their peers, on the exchange of information, on sharing their struggles and on the identification of interesting parts of the curriculum or things that excite them� The mocks have gone, the orals are uncertain and it was devastating for these students to see adults and unions withdraw from talks� I am glad the talks have resumed and I appreciate they are confidential but I hope the Minister will update the House and the leaving cert students who I am sure are watching today and who are anxious for three things: clarity, certainty and choice� They are not unreasonable demands for the leaving cert students of the class of 2021 to be making� 405 Seanad Éireann I ask the Minister of State to talk when he is replying, if he can, about how the applied leaving cert will be managed� If he is in a position to give it, I would also appreciate some comment on the junior cert. 15/02/2021C00200Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Thomas Byrne): Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, agus go raibh maith agaibh, a Sheanadóirí, as an ábhar táb- hachtach seo a chur faoi bhráid an tSeanaid inniu� Tá áthas orm freagra a thabhairt in ionad an Aire Oideachais atá gnóthach faoi láthair agus gabhann sí a leithscéal� Bhí mé ag caint léi roinnt noiméad ó shin� I thank the Senator for raising what is obviously an important matter, of interest not only to Senators, Members of the Dáil and all of us, but particularly to the 60,000 young people across the country who are due to sit the leaving cert this year and who are continuing their education� The leaving cert is not an end point; it is a part of their lifelong journey of education. I spoke to the Minister for Education and she sent her apologies� She is otherwise engaged but would like to have been here and has asked me to do this� The Government is acutely aware of the challenges the pandemic has brought to the education system this year and last, particularly the unique challenges it poses to those preparing to sit State examinations� For leaving cert students, the continued closure of schools for in-school learning results in these students missing out on significant in-person class contact time. I pay tribute to those students and their teachers, in particular, who are continuing education despite the difficulties. There has been a huge amount of development in the provision of education, as I see with

Load more