Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Mary Moran welcomed the announcement made by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, of the allocation of €15 million for the school book rental scheme for all primary schools. I join her in welcoming the measure which is hugely important. The cost of primary school books is very high and difficult for parents to meet. People can no longer pass on books because they are in workbook format and can only be used by one child. That is a real problem with school publishers.
Senator David Norris supported Senator Aideen Hayden in seeking a debate on security of tenure. He also referred to the serious matter of evictions. If he has information on the serious criminal offences he disclosed to us, it should be reported to An Garda Síochána, as I think he has done. Any information he has available should be handed on. He also referred to a visit by the Pope and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. We have already covered that issue at the committee.
Senator Hildegarde Naughton thanked Dr. David Robert Grimes for his article in The Irish Timeson immunisation and called for a debate with the Minister for Health on the vaccination programme. I agree with her in her point about the dangers of the non-immunisation of schoolchildren and the increased incidence of measles. Like her, I was concerned about the outbreak in west Cork in 2012. Too many parents are relying on the concept of herd immunity and not having their children immunised. We need a public education campaign to remind them of the huge importance of immunisation.
Senator Marc MacSharry called for a debate on free GP care for children under six years. It is welcome that the Cabinet finaly agreed to it this week. We will have a debate on the legislation which is due to be brought before the House before the summer, according to the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, who has invited consultations with GPs, many of whom are objecting in a way that does not recognise the major benefits the scheme will have for parents. It is also a milestone on the way to providing universal health care for all, to which the Government is committed. It is an important reform that will move us away from the inequitable two-tier health structure we have inherited. Colleagues interested in the point should look at the study published in The Irish Timeshealth supplement by Professor Tom O'Dowd of Trinity College Dublin which contradicts some of the claims made by GPs at public meetings. They suggest they will face an enormous hike in the numbers of visits as a result of the introduction of the free GP scheme. The study by Professor O'Dowd shows the increase in the numbers of visits will be far lower than what they suggest. I urge all colleagues to look at the study which was published yesterday.
Senator Susan O'Keeffe spoke about the school book scheme and I agree with her. She also called for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on a compensation scheme for shellfish fishermen who lost pots in the storms. She referred to some flaws in the scheme. We can ask the Minister to attend as he is receptive to requests to come to the Chamber. It may also be appropriate to table the matter for discussion on the Adjournment if it concerns a specific point about flaws in the scheme.
Senator Mark Daly proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, although I am not clear to what it relates. He spoke about a motion on the Order Paper and I am not sure if he is looking to have it debated today. The motion calls on the Government to name currently unnamed public buildings, roads or parks after Cumann na mBan or a member of it. I agree with the spirit of the motion and that it would have been nice to see more done to commemorate the 100th anniversary. I was sorry I was unable to attend, because of business in this House, the event at Glasnevin Cemetery which the President attended. This is not a matter for the Government but local councils which deal with the naming of public parks and roads. I commend Dublin City Council for recently passing a motion to name the new bridge after Rosie Hackett. It is the first bridge in Dublin to be named after a woman, one who was active in the independence movement. It was an initiative taken by citizens, many of whom were involved in the Labour Party, Labour Women and Labour Youth. I commend them for taking it. The motion is problematic because it deals with a matter that is not one for central government to deal with.