Seanad Éireann Order of Business: Bye-Election 2021, Care for Older People, Ban on Visas

I am delighted to have been selected last night as the Labour Party candidate in the Dublin Bay South by-election. I thank all of those who supported me. I look forward to the campaign, although I am conscious that we will be very mindful of public health guidelines as we come through this awful pandemic, which has caused so much heartbreak for so many. I know that issues relating to healthcare, decent public services and housing will be to the fore in the by-election campaign, and I look forward to that.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on care, particularly that relating to older persons in our communities. I have called for a new fair deal scheme to enable supports to be provided for people who wish to remain in their own homes rather than prioritising State funding for institutional and nursing home care. I want people to be given an option as they age and I would like to have that debate here.

I thank the Leader for organising last night's debate on Gaza with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I was proud to speak on the matter. I reiterate the calls that I and others made for the Minister to ensure that Ireland takes a strong stance at the UN Security Council in the context of seeking an end to the awful slaughter of civilians and children.

I ask the Leader for a debate on the processing of visa applications. I am conscious that the Department of Justice has put a hold on the processing of new visas due to the pandemic. The Immigrant Council and Doras Buí have both eloquently called for a change in policy and pointed out the impact on separated families. There is also a serious impact on businesses. One business in my area in Dublin Bay South, the Chimac restaurant, which is owned by Garret Fitzgerald, is a case in point. The restaurant has a commis chef, Joaquin, who has been stranded indefinitely in Chile. I conform that have permission to name those involved. Indeed, Rob O'Hanrahan of Virgin Media News has highlighted this case. The restaurant is now down 40% in terms of staff and is not alone in that regard. So many businesses, as we reopen, are going to face difficulties and strain without the availability of staff so, therefore, we need to ensure a return to the swift processing of visas. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to come to the House to discuss the strain on families and businesses.

Senator Mullen spoke about bias on the part of our national broadcaster, RTÉ. I remind him that three years ago next Tuesday the people voted by 66% to repeal the eighth amendment. Perhaps it needs to be stressed again that we have repealed the eighth amendment.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

What about the other third of voters?

Senator Ivana Bacik:

I did not interrupt the Senator.

An Cathaoirleach:

Senator Bacik, without interruption please.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

I made a simple request.

Senator Ivana Bacik:

The Oireachtas has voted and passed legislation. Terminations of pregnancy are legally available in Ireland and women need those reproductive health services. I am proud to be one of the people who campaigned for the repeal of the eighth amendment. We all stand in solidarity in the context of the result of the referendum.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

One should not be left out of the debate when one is in the minority.

Senator Ivana Bacik:

It is bit rich of the Senator to complain, three years on, about the result of the referendum.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

This is intolerance by the pro-abortion side.

Senator Ivana Bacik:

I am not pro-abortion. I am pro-choice.

An Cathaoirleach:

The Senator is entitled to an extra minute, if she so wishes, because she was interrupted.

Senator Ivana Bacik:

I thank the Cathaoirleach. This is an issue on which language is important.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

What about the babies?

Senator Ivana Bacik:

We must remember the thousands of women in Ireland who have had abortions, their families, women who face crisis pregnancies and the awful catastrophic diagnosis that so many women and their families have faced in the context of fatal foetal abnormality. We need to be sensitive in our language. Talking about people as being pro-abortion, as Senator Mullen consistently does, is insensitive and does not reflect the reality. Those of us who campaigned for repeal are pro-choice. We want to see women having choice. Women in Ireland now do have that choice thanks to the campaigners and the people who voted in support of repeal three years ago.

An Cathaoirleach:

Senator Bacik, without interruption. I ask Senators to have respect for the rules of the House. When a Senator is on his or her feet during the Order of Business, it is that Senator's time and everybody gets his or her time.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

On point of order, I agree that I interrupted Senator Bacik but the Senator has a different technique. On numerous occasions I have heard her raise points of order that are not points of order at all simply in order to make her political point. Sauce for the goose has to be sauce for the gander, even if the goose and gander are operating in slightly different ways.

Senator Ivana Bacik:

I did not interrupt the Senator.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

I have never known the Cathaoirleach to give me an extra minute when Senator Bacik jumps up with a bogus point of order to interrupt me.

An Cathaoirleach:

In the first instance, Senator, your point of order is not a point of order.

Senator Ivana Bacik:

I sat and listened to Senator Mullen. I sat and listened to his insensitive language and I responded, as is my right. I used my time on the Order of Business to do so.

An Cathaoirleach:

Correct. Senator Mullen is aware of the rules of the House. In order for him to intervene in a debate or when another Senator is in possession, he must first ask permission under Standing Order 39. Then, it is up to the Senator who is in possession to either allow the Senator to have 30 seconds or not.

Rónán Mullen:

Am I not entitled to be heard on a point of order?

An Cathaoirleach:

The Senator has already tried to do that.

Senator Rónán Mullen:

If the Cathaoirleach is going to privilege people with an extra minute because they were interrupted, will he introduce a penalty for them when they introduce a bogus point of order? This is Senator Bacik's repeated technique. I applaud her talent but I have to point out she is in breach of Standing Orders when she does it.

Senator Ivana Bacik:

I am not in breach of anything today. I sat and listened. This morning, I sat through Commencement Matters when the Senator consistently interrupted and barracked a Minister. This is his own pattern of behaviour in the House.