Vol. 274 Tuesday, No. 2 26 January 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 26/01/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 45 26/01/2021C00200Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 47 26/01/2021C00250Job Losses� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 47 26/01/2021F00200Medicinal Products Availability � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 50 26/01/2021H00500Emergency Departments � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 52 26/01/2021K00400Third Level Fees � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 26/01/2021M00250Equine Industry � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 57 26/01/2021O00450Childcare Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 60 T00100Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 62 26/01/2021T00300An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 63 26/01/2021JJ00400Minute’s Silence for Former Senator Brian Hillery � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 80 26/01/2021JJ00700Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 80 26/01/2021JJ01400Appointment of Members to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 81 26/01/2021JJ01700Reappointment of Ombudsman for Children: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 81 Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 81 26/01/2021VVV00100Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � 108 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 26 Eanáir 2021 Tuesday, 26 January 2021 Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 26/01/2021A00100Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad 26/01/2021B00100An Cathaoirleach: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, for coming into the Seanad today to respond to the matters before us� Before that, by order of the House, I must read out all the Commencement matters that were submitted by Senators� I have notice from Senator Shane Cassells that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on the recent job losses in a number of Irish provincial newspapers owned by the Iconic Newspapers group� I have also received notice from Senator Joe O’Reilly of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to ensure that the drug, Duodopa, is made available to people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. I have also received notice from Senator Seán Kyne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the provision of a new emer- gency department at University Hospital Galway� I have also received notice from Senator Fintan Warfield of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to engage with third-level institutions to consider a reduction in next year’s fees for students whose courses were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions� I have also received notice from Senators Fiona O’Loughlin and Vincent P� Martin of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine to make a statement on the 45 Seanad Éireann announcement by Horse Sport Ireland of its planned move from County Kildare to County Dublin� I have also received notice from Senator Ivana Bacik of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to make a statement on the results of a recent survey carried out by the Federation of Early Childhood Providers on the closure of services due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and to con- firm that the sector will continue to receive Government funding and support. I have also received notice from Senator Malcolm Byrne of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to make a statement on the introduction of a universal basic income for artists� 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 in the OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine� I have also received notice from Senator Timmy Dooley of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to address the shortage of secondary school places for sixth class students in Ennis, County Clare� I have also received notice from Senator John Cummins of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the timelines for the capital building plans for a multidisciplinary early intervention and respite care centre for children with complex additional needs on the grounds of St� Otteran’s Hospital in County Water- ford� I have also received notice from Senator Mark Wall of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to launch a nationwide campaign to highlight the damage being caused to the environment by illegal dumping� I have also received notice from Senator Catherine Ardagh of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the roll-out of in vitro fer- tilisation, IVF, treatment through public hospitals� I have also received notice from Senator Emer Currie of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Transport to provide an update on plans for the develop- ment of the N3 to N4 link road� I have also received notice from Senator John McGahon of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the provision of addi- tional primary education places for Dundalk south, County Louth� 46 26 January 2021 I have also received notice from Senator Annie Hoey of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on the impact of Covid-19 on placement availability for social care students in the 2020-21 academic year� I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to make a statement on the development of a new national strategy for women and girls� I have also received notice from Senator Garret Ahearn of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the proposed cancella- tion of Bus Éireann’s X8 Expressway route from Dublin to Cork� I have also received notice from Senator Mary Seery Kearney of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to address the concerns of the leaving certificate 2020 students who invoked the appeals process, and those who sat their leaving certificate examinations in November 2020 and are still awaiting their results� I have also received notice from Senator Barry Ward of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Finance to consider changing the rates of taxes on mobility, in particular, stamp duty and inheritance tax, for those wishing to downsize or move house� 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 make a statement on plans to ban the importation of fracked gas� Of the matters raised by the Senators that are suitable for discussion, I have selected those raised by Senators Cassells, O’Reilly, Kyne, Warfield, Bacik, and O’Loughlin and Martin who are sharing time, and they will be taken now� I regret that I have had to rule out of order the mat- ter raised by Senator Ahearn on the ground that the Minister has no official responsibility in the matter� The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise� 26/01/2021C00200Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters 26/01/2021C00250Job Losses 26/01/2021C00300Senator Shane Cassells: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter and I thank the Minister of State for being present� Last Friday evening with no advance warning to employees or to the National Union of Journalists, a large number of journalists across a range of well-known local newspapers were laid off. These included the well-known titles, The Midland Tribune and The Tullamore Tri- 47 Seanad Éireann bune, the Clonmel Nationalist, the Tipperary Star, the Donegal