Seanad Éireann
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Vol. 276 Monday, No. 3 17 May 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 17/05/2021A00100Teachtaireachtaí ón Dáil - Messages from Dáil � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 161 17/05/2021A00300Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 161 17/05/2021B00150Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 162 17/05/2021B00200Common Agricultural Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 163 17/05/2021D00300Cancer Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 165 17/05/2021F00400Health Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 167 17/05/2021H00500Primary Care Centres � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 170 17/05/2021K00400Dublin-Monaghan Bombings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 172 17/05/2021M00400Middle East � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 174 17/05/2021T00100An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 177 17/05/2021HH00300Report of Committee of Selection: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 192 17/05/2021MM00100Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021: Second Stage 193 17/05/2021MMM00100Young People: Motion� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 213 Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 245 17/05/2021VVVV00100Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Order for Second Stage� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 264 17/05/2021VVVV00500Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 264 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Luain, 17 Bealtaine 2021 Monday, 17 May 2021 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 17/05/2021A00100Teachtaireachtaí ón Dáil - Messages from Dáil 17/05/2021A00200An Cathaoirleach: Dáil Éireann passed the Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Stra- tegic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021 on 12 May 2021, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired� Dáil Éireann has also passed the Private Security Services (Amend- ment) Bill 2021 on 12 May 2021, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired� Dáil Éireann has also passed the Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amend- ment) Bill 2021 on 12 May 2021, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired� 17/05/2021A00300Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 17/05/2021A00400An Cathaoirleach: I have received notice from Senator Maria Byrne that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the steps be- ing taking to ensure farm safety and farmer well-being are included in the next Common Agricultural Policy, CAP� I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the provision of cancer screening services for cervical, breast and bowel cancers and the measures being taken to address the backlog in waiting times for screening services caused by the Covid-19 pan- demic� I have also received notice from Senator Fiona O’Loughlin of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the HSE supports available to women going through menopause� I have also received notice from Senator Garret Ahearn of the following matter: 161 Seanad Éireann The need for the Minister the Health to provide an update on the proposed primary care centre for Fethard, County Tipperary� I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on discussions with the British Government on the implementation of the all-party motion on the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings adopted in May 2016� I have also received notice from Senator Frances Black of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the specific actions Ireland will take at national, EU and UN levels in response to the human rights violations and the military assaults on civilian targets currently being conducted by the Israeli Govern- ment� I have also received notice from Senator Malcolm Byrne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review the commercial rates model of local government funding given the increased growth of e-com- merce and online retail� I have also received notice from Senator Timmy Dooley of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that Irish Water has adequate resources to replace the outdated asbestos pipe network in the west Clare area, particularly the portion of the network between the villages of Cree and Coora- clare where substantial disruption has taken place in recent weeks� I have also received notice from Senator Lynn Boylan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the Government’s position ahead of the upcoming negotiations on the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty� I have also received notice from Senator Emer Currie of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the status of negotia- tions for the purchase of a field beside St. Patrick’s National School, Diswellstown, Dublin 15� Of the matters raised by the Senators suitable for discussion, I have selected Senators Byrne, Boyhan, O’Loughlin, Ahearn, Gallagher and Black and they will be taken now� I regret that I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Dooley on the grounds that the Minister has no official responsibility in that area. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise� 17/05/2021B00150Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 17/05/2021B00200Common Agricultural Policy 162 17 May 2021 17/05/2021B00300Senator Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for being here this morning� The CAP reform negotiations that are currently under way were initiated in 2018 and Ireland had to make a submission by January 2020� I have met many young farmers in my own neck of the woods and have spoken to people from various sectors and there are two main issues at play� Farm- ers are opposed to any cuts and are concerned about convergence and redistribution� This is particularly the case for active farmers and I engaged with the Minister on this recently� Many different proposals are being brought forward and farmers are fearful. They are afraid that if there are cuts to the CAP budget, it will have a detrimental effect on the farming community in Ireland. Farming is such a difficult business at the moment. We want to encourage young farmers to take over family farms but many farmers are in full-time or part-time off-farm em- ployment. Two important issues have been raised with me, the first being the mental health and well-being of farmers� All of the talk about cutbacks is putting a lot of pressure on their mental health and well-being� Many farmers have young families and are worried about how they can keep their farms going� I would like to see mental health and well-being incorporated into our CAP reform submission� The other important issue is farm safety� Farm Safety Week takes place in July and now is an opportune time to raise the issue� There have been a huge number of farm accidents, and a lot of them have ended up in tragedy, which is very sad� In 2019, there were 19 fatalities� Up to mid-2020, there had been 14 fatalities, which is tragic� Now is an opportune time, when CAP is being looked at, to give assurance to farmers� They are the lifeblood of our culture in Ireland� There are so many agri- food businesses that have been established from farms� I look forward to hearing the Minister of State’s response� 17/05/2021C00200Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Martin Heydon): I thank the Senator for raising this important matter� I congratulate her on her recent re-election to Seanad Éireann� It is great to see her back on the agricultural panel� It is also great that one of the first topics she has raised on her return relates to such an important area of agriculture� I thank the Senator for that� The Senator is right that it is not just about farm safety, it is also about farmers’ mental health and well-being, especially in these Covid times� I am aware that it is hard on all of us and that