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Updated 12.35pm
THE MAJORITY OF senators will be back for tomorrow’s special sitting of the Seanad to debates the crises in Gaza and Ukraine though some are away on holidays.
The upper house is being recalled from its summer break to debate the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine after senators on both the government and opposition side pushed for a debate.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan is expected to address the chamber with the debate due to get under way from 2pm tomorrow afternoon.
This week TheJournal.ie has contacted all senators in an effort to determine who will make it back given the difficulties that a special, short-notice sitting might create for some parliamentarians.
A total of 39 senators out of the 58 senators we enquired about have confirmed their attendance. Eight have confirmed they will be unable to attend. Two have said they are unsure at present. Nine have not responded to messages at the time of publication.
Those who can’t attend include Sinn Féin’s Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Fine Gael’s Tony Mulcahy who said they are on holidays. Others who confirmed they are “away” include independent senator Rónán Mullen and Labour’s Lorraine Higgins.
Independent senator Mary Ann O’Brien says she is involved with the European Equestrian Championships in Millstreet and will be unable to attend. Labour’s Denis Landy said that he has family commitments.
Fianna Fáil’s Marc MacSharry is unable to attend but said he is paired with the Labour senator Jimmy Harte who is still recovering from a serious accident last year.
MacSharry was criticised for signing a motion to recall the house to debate organ donations last year but then not attending as he was on holiday. He confirmed he did not sign the motion to recall senators this year.
Others are finding it difficult to rearrange their plans. Senator and doctor John Crown is unsure if he’ll make it with his spokesperson saying he’s currently covering for two other doctors at St Vincent’s Hospital.
One senator, who declined to be named, said he would attend but was annoyed at the chamber being recalled.
“I hate missing these things, but it’s a right pain in the bum, and it’s an awful day for it. I don’t want to be driving back home on the Friday of a bank holiday,” he said.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, who is part of the Reform Alliance, said she’d be there “even though its Ladies Day at the Galway Races”.
Fianna Fáil senator Mark Daly said in addition to the Seanad being recalled, he wants to bring the ambassadors from Palestine and Israel before the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee.
Fine Gael senator Colm Burke said he was in Gaza in 2009 and said it was “the same situation now as it was then”.
- with reporting from Daragh Brophy, Nicky Ryan and Sinead O’Carroll.
First published 11.11am on 29 July 2014
Note: When this story was originally published on Tuesday it stated that the sitting was being held tomorrow when in fact it is being held on Thursday.
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Ah i crashed in tallaght when a horse came bolting from a garden and landed on the bonet of my van with my pregnant girlfriend in the van also van was scrap after it two cameras were looking at the scene i was told they were not working “recession”and was told to take a civil suit against a very well know traveler family to get compensation as you can imagine i was left footing the bill myself so heres hoping these cameras are working poor girl rip and my toughts go out to her family
@ Richard
I’m surprised they didn’t sue you for damages to the horse
Dublin bus CCTV cameras are always working & should be invaluable in establishing the chain of events which led to this tragedy.
( Genuine question) Do the cameras look out on to the road too?
I was worried about that aswell but when you drag your horse into a horse box and leave the scene like a hot snot not evening asking about the two injured partys think there claim went out the window but point is i and my girlfriend are ok this poor girl had passed away my heart goes out to her family
dash cam time
Yes the cameras look out onto to road from several directions
yes and camera in cabcovers door
Yes there is a camera where the route numbers are back and front. In all there are 10 cameras on your bus working 24/7
With all the CCTV it shouldn’t be too difficult
I would not rely on cameras being of any use. Very unfortunate accident. My thoughts are with the families involved. With that rain yesterday conditions got pretty bad at times for driving.
Youd feel sorry for bus driver must feel real guilt even if it was not his fault road deaths an injurys affect people long after the news stops talking about it
The rain is all the more reason to drive extra carefully, if conditions ate too bad, pull over and wait. The showers pass quickly.
This is my friends daughter so anyone with negative comments pls keep them to yourself and your small minds . A simple r.I.p will suffice instead of dissecting the situation
RIP that young girl, I hope the young man pulls through. Thoughts with both families and also with the driver and passengers of the bus.
I live in that area . There has been multiple crashes at that point and deaths as evidenced by the crosses erected at the road side . Conditions were bad yesterday with downpours and if your speed is a little high the bend is fairly sharp to take . Regardless of who was at fault a young girl has died and another young man very unwell . Think of their families .
Poor family of that girl that died a awful tragedy :-( drive carefully to many deaths
This isn’t the first tragedy on that this stretch of road. The road hasn’t been modified since the 60′s I hope the council start considering to look at it.
A terrible tragedy
That section of the Greenhills Road does not need any modification. More than likely this crash was due to excessive or inappropriate speed by one of the drivers.
Were you there think of both these of these families before you have decided to make such a stupid comment
That comment was meant for Quinn
Bronagh, with all due respect, please have respect for the families of that girl and the biy left behind, and dont leap to conclusions. it will already be a painful enough time for them :/
An hour after the crash so don’t just assume police want to question two other drivers who overtook the bus around the time of the accident so I think before any blame is put on anybody wait till all the facts come out first
Seen that crash last night there is no CCTV on that part of road it was outside lidl not at the roundabout were ther is loads of CCTV hope that catch who there looking for
There by the grace of God.
May God give strength to the families involved.
welcome back, changed your name?
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