Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business shall be No. 1, Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 3.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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This being the decade of commemorations I believe it would be appropriate to set time aside this week for statements on the 1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf which is a significant milestone in the history of our country. This history did not begin at the beginning of the 20th century. I note that on Thursday the House will debate the situation in the Ukraine and in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Some time should be set aside to talk about the commemoration of the Battle of Clontarf. Events are planned in Glasnevin, Clontarf and Swords, all across Dublin and in Dromoland. It would be appropriate for the Seanad to set some time aside and I ask the Leader to consider my suggestion.

I wish to roundly condemn the brutal murder of a 40 year old man at 8.45 a.m. this morning in Ballymun, outside a national school. I wish to convey my condolences to his family on this brazen attack. Only two weeks ago in the Clongriffin area a man was shot outside a crèche and he has since died. The perpetrators deserve everything they get. My party, Fianna Fáil, has previously called for a dedicated Garda unit to tackle gun crime in Dublin city and county. It would be appropriate to have a debate after the Easter recess. I have called regularly for debates on policing but I call for a debate on the specific area of gun crime. The number of murders has escalated over recent months. The annual GRA and AGSI conferences have heard calls from gardaí on the possible correlation between the shortage of gardaí in the traffic corps and the increase in the number of road deaths in certain areas. It should be ensured that the Garda Síochána is provided with every resource necessary to tackle these people - I use that word very loosely - who carry out these crimes in the middle of the day or early in the morning. They shoot down their victims in cold blood and it is happening only four or five miles from here. It is deplorable and I ask the Leader to consider having a debate.

I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has confirmed yesterday that prior to the local and European elections on 23 May he will publish the actual charges for water. I welcome his commitment to do so. I hope he or the Minister will announce the specific charges and the structure because people want certainty in that matter. I am sure all of us have been receiving complaints about the uncertainty of the future charge.

People feel aggrieved they have to pay it from the last quarter of this year regardless of the quality of the drinking water and the service they receive. It is important that people know exactly what they will pay and I welcome the commitment from the Government, and specifically the Taoiseach, to announce it before the local and European elections. When he does that, we must set aside time in the House to discuss it. When we come back, we need a debate on the compulsory health tax proposed by the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, in the guise of universal health insurance. The Minister seems unsure about the proposal and its cost and Senators may be able to help him along those lines by teasing out where we believe there are deficiencies in the service, particularly when we look at the much-vaunted Dutch model, with costs increasing every year. We need that debate after the Easter break.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, I condemn the shooting that took place today outside a primary school in Ballymun in broad daylight. It is shocking to see another shooting carried out in such a brazen fashion. It deserves condemnation. We may seek a debate on crime and criminal justice, while recognising that legislation alone cannot prevent that kind of shooting from occurring. It would be good to have a broader debate on the criminal justice system after Easter.

I thank the Leader for scheduling a debate this week on the situation in Ukraine, which is of considerable concern and is further deteriorating, with Russia still claiming no responsibility for the outbreak of opposition to the Kiev Government across the eastern Ukraine. I also thank the Leader for scheduling debates on the terms of reference of the commission of investigation, which was a late addition to the schedule. The debate will take place tomorrow evening.

I seek a debate on children's rights to examine how far we have progressed in improving the protection of children's rights in our law since the passing of the referendum. It would be timely to do so next month, after the welcome publication of the Children First Bill. It is part of a package of measures that have already been implemented, including the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act and the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act. We have held hearings at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the child and family relationships Bill. We had a series of meetings last week with a range of NGOs and different groups working on the front line in service provision, along with academics, who gave us the benefit of their expertise and experience. They offered some important insights into how the Bill could be improved. It is an historic opportunity to reform our law on family relationships. Some of the comments offered by academics and others centred on the change of language and some of the concepts under which we have been running our family courts and care systems for far too long. We should move away from the language of custody and access and towards parental responsibility. It would be timely to have a debate on child protection and children's rights in the month of May or June.

David Norris (Independent)
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I support Senator Darragh O'Brien in his suggestion that we should have a debate on the Battle of Clontarf. As a descendant of Brian Ború, he should have declared an interest. I have had meetings with Conor O'Brien, Lord Inchiquin, and the Minister, and some money has been released in these difficult times, particularly for the celebration around Killaloe. Members may have heard, as I did with great delight, our former colleague Joe O'Toole speaking about his family's involvement in the Battle of Clontarf. He punctured it beautifully at the end by saying that he discovered they had fought on the wrong side. My family was much cuter than that and fought on both sides, hedging their bets so that they could claim victory no matter what happened.
The House should recognise the fact that Columbia University has awarded the Pulitzer Prize to The Guardianand The Washington Postfor publishing the evidence gathered by Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning.

I say this because I nominated those three people for the Nobel Prize for peace. All of us have the right to do so. I wrote to every Member of this House and not a single one supported me in this. I find that interesting. Perhaps they were a little bit afraid of alienating the Americans. It shows that, as I have always said, the Americans are tougher and more various than we are and are not offended by these things, or at least if one offends them they are the right people to offend.

Can the Leader arrange for a debate on, and also urge the Government to introduce, certain measures regarding anaphylactic shock? On 18 December last year a family was Christmas shopping in central Dublin when their daughter had an anaphylactic attack after eating something with peanut sauce on it. She died on the street. Although her mother had gone into a chemist, the chemist felt that he or she was not in a position to give the girl an injection. That was the legal position. In those circumstances I would have been prepared to break the rules. One understands the professional position of the chemist, and I do not want to be critical in this situation, but it is our responsibility to make sure those regulations are changed. No girl, boy or adult, no human being, should die on the streets because of a regulation that one must have a prescription for a simple injection.

There was a debate about this on the radio yesterday in which very sensible suggestions were made - for example, that the person should carry a card identifying him or her as being at risk and permitting the chemist to give the injection. I am not sure this girl was 12, but there are 12-year-olds who are nervous of giving themselves an injection. Anaphylactic shock is a very serious thing. This girl was dead inside 15 or 20 minutes. One is not in a position to give one's self an injection. It attacks one's motor reflexes. I would be very glad if we could consider this situation. It is something practical that Seanad Éireann could do. We could clear it up and we could save lives. That would be a good day for Seanad Éireann.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I join with Senator Darragh O'Brien in sympathising with the family who lost a loved one this morning in very violent circumstances. I support the call for a debate on gun crime. The number of violent deaths in Dublin is increasingly worrying, as is the number of firearms being used in robberies down the country. Gangs, many of whom originate in Dublin, come down the country and terrorise vulnerable people in their homes and businesses.

I congratulate the gardaí in Galway who over the weekend apprehended a group, mainly from Dublin, who had carried out a significant number of robberies in the west in recent days. It is good to see that at least some of them have been taken out of circulation. We need a debate in this House on crime, particularly serious crime involving firearms.

We all received in the post this morning a timely reminder from Retailers Against Smuggling pointing out the huge loss to our economy from laundered fuel and smuggled cigarettes. It is estimated that this costs the economy in the region of €390 million a year. This money funds organised and serious crime and probably extends into the drugs trade. Approximately 300 million litres of fuel are laundered every year at a cost of €140 million to the Exchequer. The illegal cigarette trade costs in the region of €250 million per year. This is very significant. We need a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on criminality and, if we get the opportunity, with the Minister for Finance about the significant loss of revenue to the Exchequer.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I join Senators on all sides of the House in expressing sympathy to the family of the man murdered so callously this morning in Dublin.

Last week we paid tribute to the outstanding contribution President Higgins and his wife, Sabine, had made, with others, to the success of the state visit to the United Kingdom. As a result of the visit, there has been much speculation in the newspapers about the continuing relationship between our two islands which we have already cemented in a variety of institutions. One article caught my attention and although the subject is not new, it may need to be reopened. It is whether it would be in Ireland's interests to consider rejoining the Commonwealth. Interestingly, from 1922 which marked the foundation of the State until 1948, both the Cumann na nGaedheal Government led by W. T. Cosgrave and the subsequent Fianna Fáil Government, in its early stages in coalition with the Labour Party and subsequently on its own, always supported the notion that Ireland be part of the Commonwealth as an olive branch to reach out and empathise with the Unionist tradition on the island. Will the Leader convey to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste the question of whether it would be worthwhile setting up a working group to consider this subject of whether it would be in Ireland's interests to consider rejoining the Commonwealth? I am not advocating that we join, but I am suggesting the issue could be explored in the new environment in which we have operated since the Good Friday Agreement, with a continuing and an evolving relationship with the United Kingdom, including the evolution of North-South bodies. I pay tribute to the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Seán Barrett, for his continuing initiative in this regard and I am proud to be a member of one of these bodies. Perhaps it might be worth considering having a discussion on whether it would be in Ireland's interests. We are already a member of several very important international organisations and a former Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, argued that Ireland had an outward view of the world by being President of the League of Nations during the 1930s, when there was a very severe economic downturn throughout the globe. He had an internationalist view that has been continued by successive Administrations. It might be worthwhile considering if it would be in the interests of the country to examine the matter, especially considering what I have said, including the North-South relationship and the evolving relationship between east and west.

Marie Moloney (Labour)
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If a report in yesterday's newspapers is to be believed - God knows, they get things wrong when publishing bad news and rile people - the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is carrying out a review of national parks with a view to outsourcing work. I am surprised at the Minister if this is the case, as we come from County Kerry which hosts the finest national park in Ireland in which there is a superb workforce. As the park rangers, gardeners and guides are very experienced, we must resist any such process at all costs. Some may remember that approximately 20 years ago there was a proposal to build a golf course which would have looked beautiful in the national park at Killarney, but the people were not having it. They came out in force to say, "Hands off our national park". They will come out again if this proposal goes ahead and, God knows, I will lead them in the charge to keep hands off the national park. Whether there is truth to the story, the Minister should come to the Seanad to which he is not a very regular visitor. Will he advise the House on whether this is one of his proposals and let us know where we stand?

A number of weeks ago I called for a debate on a report on the topic of living with neurological disease. I asked the Leader to ask the Minister for Health to come to the House for a debate on the issue. Will he update us on what he has heard from the Minister and when he will facilitate the debate sought?

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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Will the Leader arrange a debate on the report of the Commission for Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, which was published yesterday? The commission is chaired by Mr. Pat Spillane and it was worrying to hear him say on radio this morning that he reckoned that of 64 GAA clubs in County Kerry, only 15 could mount a minor side of 15 players.

Those are areas we must address - rural areas and the problems of small towns. I ask the Leader to consider that.

I endorse the sentiments of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, on the death of the Canadian finance Minister, Jim Flaherty. It was ironic that on Thursday when the Leader was discussing with us the generous tributes to Daniel O'Connell by her majesty that we also mentioned Thomas D'Arcy Magee as one of the great Irish contributors to Canadian democracy. Later in the same day the longest standing finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, died. In his tribute the Minister, Deputy Noonan, said that he was forever accessible to the Government and the Irish community. He constantly championed the promotion of Irish related projects in Canada and as recently as St. Patrick’s Day the Minister, Mr. Flaherty, was the host to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, on his visit to Toronto. We worked very closely together in the IMF and the World Bank where Ireland and Canada share a constituency.

The success of Jim Flaherty was recognised by NUIG which conferred upon him an honorary degree. His success in the Canadian banking system was to restrain the excesses which were widespread throughout most countries where banks required to be rescued at huge cost, and also in maintaining order in the public finances. He is reported to have had 70 green ties and a dog called Guinness. The CN Tower in Toronto was illuminated in green last Friday and will be again tomorrow when he will get a state funeral. He is one of only three Canadians to have achieved a state funeral while not being a Minister. Thomas D'Arcy McGee is one of the others. Two of the three of those exceptional circumstances characterise the contribution which this country has made to the development of democracy and the Canadian constitution.

It is noteworthy that Jim Flaherty, who was from a working class background in Montreal, won a scholarship to Princeton and achieved so much of value for his country. The Canadian Prime Minister said Jim will be sorely missed not only by his friends on both sides of the House he will also be missed by countless thousands of Canadians to whom he devoted himself and whom he helped during his long and successful career. Our sympathies go to the Canadian ambassador, Loyola Hearn, and the Irish ambassador in Canada, Ray Bassett, and to Mr. Flaherty’s wife, Christine, his sons John, Galen and Quinn. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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It is timely this morning that I raise the issue of wind and call for another debate on wind energy given that people are on the streets of Dublin protesting against pylons and wind turbines in certain areas of the country. It was very much highlighted in the news over the weekend how we need now to produce more renewable energy from wind and wave. There are vast areas on the western seaboard where we could produce more wind energy, construct more wind farms and create much-needed employment. Around the centre of the country Bord na Móna has vast areas of land that would be suitable for wind farms and wind turbines. It is time for us to have another debate on wind energy and to come up with a solution to the problem. We have lost our chance to export energy in recent days, which is a great pity because anytime we can export something it will create jobs and much needed development. I would welcome if it were at all possible to have a debate in the near future on wind farms.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I made very similar points on Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth as Senator Mooney made recently. I put them up on my Facebook page on 1 April and got a very interesting response.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I just wanted to raise again the State meeting its renewable energy targets. I commend the thousands of people who took part in a protest today outside the gates of Leinster House.

They were protesting for many different reasons but primarily against the imposition of industrial for-profit wind farms that are being erected in parts of the country to export energy outside of Ireland. They were also protesting against the imposition of overhead high voltage power lines through EirGrid’s various Grid Link projects across the State which would spoil many parts of our countryside and create many problems for people, all of which were articulated during the protest.

I welcome the scrapping of the midlands private for-profit wind farm plan. That is a consequence of the significant political and community pressure, as well as people power, that has been exerted on the Minister and the Government. Common sense has prevailed. Those of us, both in government and opposition, who campaigned against this have been vindicated by what has happened over the past several days.

While I know we have debates on the whole area of renewable energy in the House, we need a proper debate on it. Renewable energy needs to be underpinned by sustainable planning and proper planning guidelines with a more holistic view of it. However, the most important principle to underpin any renewable energy strategy in the State and on this island has to be whatever energy is created is used for the people first and foremost. We should not be importing energy from fossil fuels or from Russia while, at the same time, exporting energy created in this State from renewable sources. It does not make any sense. It is all about profit, not about the people of this State.

I am afraid for the Government it is back to the drawing board. It needs to listen to those people who were outside Leinster House today, articulating real concerns about EirGrid’s plans and industrial wind farms. We must learn lessons from mistakes made in the past and introduce a policy that will have the support of all parties. The Government even accepted a Sinn Féin Bill on wind turbine regulation in the Dáil last week. There is common ground in this area and we can reach consensus in reaching our renewable energy targets. In that spirit, will the Leader arrange a debate on this matter in the near future?

Mary Moran (Labour)
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I join with the commendations for and congratulations to the President, Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina, on the excellent job they did in representing our country last week during the first official state visit to Britain. It made me very proud to be an Irish person. I am particularly proud that I campaigned and canvassed for and supported Michael D. in his bid for the presidency. I felt both he and his wife were outstanding in their role. Sabina Higgins was excellent in demonstrating Irish style and culture and putting it to the fore.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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How did he get on in Louth in the presidential election?

Mary Moran (Labour)
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He did excellently.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Moran should speak through the Chair.

Mary Moran (Labour)
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He was the No. 1 candidate.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Well done.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We should not be discussing the President here.

Mary Moran (Labour)
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On numerous occasions, I have raised the serious matter of the provision of mental health services and psychiatric beds for children and adolescents. It is unacceptable for a child or a teenager to be placed in an adult psychiatric unit. I was horrified to read a report from the annual general meeting of the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland that 76 children and adolescents were placed in adult psychiatric hospitals last year. This is far too many. I implore the Minister responsible for this area to improve the provision of these services. We were told 100 beds would be provided but the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland found there were 66 with only 53 operational. We urgently need a debate on the provision of mental health services and psychiatric beds for children and adolescents, along with the report published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, yesterday.

I have raised this matter many times on national platforms and locally. Children and teenagers under the age of 18 are not adults and, accordingly, should not be placed in adult psychiatric units. There is also a shortfall in the proper care and consideration for children between the ages of 16 and 18 which needs to be improved.

I have continued to raise this and I ask that we debate it as soon as possible.

Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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I support Senator Darragh O'Brien in his call for a debate on the Battle of Clontarf. It is a seminal date in our history. Although much Celtic legend and Paddywhackery is attached to it, a significant body of historical fact attests to the fact Brian Ború was a very important figure in the creation of our national consciousness. He is on a par with Parnell or O'Connell, and therefore it is appropriate that he be remembered in this way.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Hear, hear.

Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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Could the Leader raise an issue with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan? Next month sees the annual general meeting of Aer Lingus and I ask the Minister to use the 25% shareholding we have in that body to protest and stop the huge remuneration packages being made to Aer Lingus senior executives, particularly the chief executive, Christoph Mueller, who is on a package of €1.5 million, including a bonus of some €400,000 for "fixing the Aer Lingus pension problem". The Aer Lingus pension problem is far from sorted.

David Norris (Independent)
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You can say that again.

Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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There is a deficit of €800 million and constant tension between management and staff, which will remain until it is solved. That culture of big bonuses got us into the mess we are in and are, hopefully, coming out of. I read that the Minister, Deputy Noonan, said it would be inappropriate for him to intervene. It would be very appropriate for him to intervene and stop this carry on.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I join Senator Mary Moran in congratulating President Higgins on the superb way the UK visit went. It was a great credit to everyone involved in organising it and the contributions they made. It was well done and was a very good sales pitch from an Irish point of view. I had an Adjournment debate last Thursday on people who are self-employed and claiming maternity benefit. Serious discrimination is happening. This morning I received clarification from the Department of Social Protection that if one is unlucky and one's baby is born on 23 April, one cannot use last year's income as the qualifying criterion for receiving maternity benefit, and one is therefore not entitled to claim it. If one's baby is born before 22 April one can use last year's income to calculate one's entitlement to benefits.

We are trying to encourage people to go into business. People who want to run a business from home and have a small income are being discriminated against and this issue must be reviewed. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister here for clarification on this matter because I am not satisfied with the clarification furnished to me. Discrimination is happening. It is wrong that this person who took the risk of setting up a business and who has been paying PRSI for 13 years is told she cannot claim maternity benefit because her baby will be born after 22 April of this year. It is wrong and must be clarified and needs, if necessary, amending legislation to deal with it.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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About this time in Liverpool today there is a remembrance of the Hillsborough disaster. We all remember that and maybe we should bow our heads to remember that terrible, horrific tragedy. It was 25 years ago today. Some 20 years ago this past week was the genocide in Rwanda where innocents were slaughtered. Today I have a meeting with UNICEF about the education programme I was part of a year and a half ago in Rwanda. I raise this because it is important we remember so we do not repeat.

On Saturday I had meetings all day on debt in Galway with David Hall and the Grant Thornton team working with him. We held approximately 65 one-to-one meetings with people who are deeply worried, and it is like a silent death in their families. I have been thinking about it since. The banks have had a strategy to wear down people. There are now worn down. Up to 50% of the people we met could face repossession or bankruptcy. The Government should not stand idly by and let the banks continue to wear down people by not communicating with them. This is a serious issue. The banks pump out computer-generated letter after letter. The clients communicate with the banks but there is no acknowledgement of their communication for months. There needs to be a person in the banks who will link-up with people. The Minister for Finance must hear this story. The real Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, must come to the House on this issue.

We also need a team or facility to provide a second opinion before people's homes are repossessed. I ask the Cathaoirleach to think about this. People will be put out on the streets and the State must find them housing. We have a housing crisis. The State will have to fund their rent allowance. If there was proper communication between the banks and the individuals an arrangement could be put in place to help them hold onto their homes-----

David Norris (Independent)
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The banks do not give a damn about individuals.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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----- even if it was to rent.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is way over time.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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I realise that but I cannot state enough the trauma I experienced listening to these people.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator can make these points during the debate.

John Whelan (Labour)
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I would have thought that by now we in this country would have learned the consequences of turning a blind eye. We have seen in no uncertain terms what happens when we have light-touch regulation in the financial services sector, and we are all still paying the price for it, as the previous Senator stated, and we will continue to do so. We have also seen what happens when we have lax or no regulation in the charities sector and this particular can of worms continues to unfold and unravel.
I ask the Leader for his assistance in facilitating a debate. This country will rue the day we continued to turn a blind eye and allowed the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to continue its lazy laissez-fairelax and light-touch regulation regarding facilities throughout the country. This is not just a Portlaoise issue. I have been contacted by people from Askeaton, Tynagh, Kerdiffstown and Shannon who all have the same story to tell. The EPA is a law unto itself.

David Norris (Independent)
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Shell Oil in Corrib.

John Whelan (Labour)
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It does what it likes with immunity. Thanks to the Cathaoirleach I was able to table a question to the Minister on the Adjournment last Thursday and I was horrified to learn the EPA is accountable to no one. It is not answerable to the Minister or the Department and it is not accountable to the Oireachtas. It is a law unto itself and it is going about the country on tyre-kicking exercises passing off as verification and carrying out emissions tests which it announces in advance before its staff arrive. We need proper regulatory oversight and accountability for the Environmental Protection Agency. Otherwise we will wake up to another headache in this country in no uncertain terms and a disaster with serious consequences for pollution and public health.

The situation in the Enva plant in Portlaoise is worrying in the extreme and it will unravel and unfold further. Will the Leader please invite to the House the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, whom I believe wants to uphold the highest standards of accountability, verification and enforcement when it comes to environmental controls and the rigorous enforcement of standards? The Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, must come to the House so we can find a way to hold the EPA to account. It is not doing its job. It is asleep at the wheel and we will rue the day we ignore it.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I agree with Senator Colm Burke in his criticism of the Government for the changes that will be to the detriment of women who will have children after 23 April when they will be deprived of maternity benefit, but I do not share his surprise. Given everything the Government has done, particularly if one goes back to it legalising last summer unnecessarily the aborting of babies, where it is of no benefit to the woman, it has shown itself to be the Government that is the most anti-child in the history of the State.

David Norris (Independent)
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Rubbish.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I am flummoxed by the Government's audacity to bring forward Bills that it purports to be in the interests of children when it already has a particular track record. Its legacy will be horrendous for children.

I support the call made by my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, for a debate on and an appropriate commemoration of the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf. It would be a pity if such an historic event, in particular the part played by the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, went unnoticed either by these Houses or the public at large. It is a milestone in the history of the country. Any of us who studied history at school will recall that it was a fundamental event in the history of the island. In some recent articles Brian Boru was compared with other great military leaders from across Europe and his military calibre and skills as a strategist were extolled. I put it to the Leader that the least that we can do in this House is have a proper debate to commemorate the occasion.

I wish to raise an issue related to the construction of pylons. As the Cathaoirleach knows, earlier today thousands of people were on Molesworth Street to protest and express their concerns about the issue. People from my own county have told me - I am sure many other Members have had the same experience - not just about the blight on the landscape but also about their genuine concerns about the health risks posed to their children in living under or adjacent to such power lines. It is time to have a full debate on the issue, particularly on the failure of EirGrid to engage properly and meaningfully on what is a source of real and genuine concern for the many people who live in the areas that will be affected by the project.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I agree with Senators Jim Walsh and Darragh O'Brien on an appropriate commemoration of Brian Boru. I have suggested previously that the Seanad consider meeting in Dromoland Castle, one of the homes of the O'Briens connected with Brian Boru.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I have not yet sent the Senator an invitation.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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Transfer altogether.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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The O'Briens are also connected with Killaloe. It would be most appropriate if we were to consider meeting at a location outside the city of Dublin to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary. I request that the Leader write to the Taoiseach to see if the Cabinet would be willing to hold one of its meetings in County Clare to coincide with the celebrations which are taking place. I commend all those involved in Clontarf, Cashel and Killaloe who have put such an effort into commemorating this important part of our history.

I wish to raise another issue. I am extremely concerned that there has been an 18% rise in the number of patients on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle. The mayor of County Clare recently found himself on a trolley for over 24 hours. It is totally unacceptable that there has been such a dramatic increase. Nurses in Dooradoyle have advised us that the position in the hospital is chaotic and that they are barely able to do their jobs. This cannot be allowed to continue. At the time of the Hanley report there was a reconfiguration of hospitals, including Ennis and Nenagh, when the 24 hour consultant-led accident and emergency units were closed at night and assurances were given that a first class service would be provided at Dooradoyle. Staff at the hospital are providing a first class service but the problem is now overcrowding.

It is incumbent on the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to take control of the situation, because it has reached crisis point. The direct intervention of the Minister for Health is required to resolve the issue in order to give confidence to the people of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and other counties who rely on this service at a crucial time in their lives.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Leader for a debate on the north west and the Border region in particular. Considering the impact of the recession, the contribution of various Governments to the regions has not been what it should be. Some recent research which has come to my attention is worth putting on the record. The Border and north west region has the lowest rate of employment, at 52%. It has the highest concentration of economically dependent individuals - that is, people less than 14 years of age and more than 64 years of age. It has the lowest level of educational attainment, in that the highest percentage of people who left school after primary school are from those counties. It has the lowest number of IDA visits, despite much acclaim for the contribution of foreign direct investment to our employment; 23 out of 350 itinerary visits took place in the Border counties. It gets less than 5% of tourism funding yet it supports 8.8% of the tourism visitors who come to the country. It has the lowest number of people in the country with private health insurance, and more than 50% of its graduates leave the country. It is clear that those statistics deserve an appropriate response from the Government. It is time this region was looked at strategically and given the level of investment that would help it perform to its potential, so that it can make a contribution to the national effort rather than being a thorn in the side of the Government, as many Governments have said. I ask the Leader, notwithstanding the difficult times, to arrange for a debate on the empowerment of the Border and north west region to allow it to perform to its potential in order that we can begin to address the clearly discriminatory figures I have mentioned.

Aideen Hayden (Labour)
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I congratulate Dublin City Council, and particularly the individual concerned with enforcing minimum standards in private rented accommodation, on its recent sweep of substandard properties in the city and its bringing 70 landlords before the courts for their failure to meet minimum standards of accommodation. Unfortunately, the reality is that in the current environment, in which rents are rising at an unprecedented rate, many tenants on low incomes, particularly tenants receiving rent supplement, are forced to accept substandard accommodation. A significant number of local authorities are not enforcing the minimum standards of accommodation, which means that many families in Ireland are living in poor-quality housing, often damp, cold and with mould. Some lack basic bathroom facilities and some do not meet fire safety standards. I admire the tenacity of Dublin City Council in the enforcement of minimum standards of accommodation. I ask the Leader for a debate on the rental sector, standards of accommodation, and how current rising rents and the failure of the rent supplement arrangement to permit people to access appropriate quality accommodation are putting some of the poorest people into, dare I say, Strumpet City slum-type accommodation that should not be accepted in the 21st century.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Darragh O'Brien and other Senators called for a debate on the 1,000th anniversary of the battle of Clontarf. I have raised that matter with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, and he has informed me that numerous events have been planned throughout the country, but I will renew my request to him to come to the House and debate the issue.

Senator O'Brien and other Members spoke about the murder of a young man in Dublin this morning and called for a dedicated Garda unit to deal with gun crime. To the best of my knowledge, there is a Garda unit dealing with serious crime and gun crime. However, I agree with the Senator that Members should have a debate on the issues of gun crime and the criminal justice system, as requested by Senator Bacik.
On charges for water, the Senator noted that the Taoiseach gave an undertaking on this matter and I am sure it will be honoured. In respect of the White Paper on universal health insurance, it is a discussion document and I will request the Minister to come into the House to have a debate on it when Members return after the recess in May.
Senator Bacik raised the question of Ukraine and Members will have a debate on this issue on Thursday. Matters in Ukraine are very disturbing at present and it is an apt opportunity to have a debate on that subject here in this Chamber. Senator Bacik also called for a debate on children's rights in the context of the Children First Bill, which has been mentioned, as well as on the question of the Child and Family Relationships Bill, which is being debated at length in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. The latter committee does a great deal of work that goes unnoticed to the public. It is one of the busiest committees in these Houses and does a wonderful job.
Senator Norris raised the nomination of The Guardianand The Washington Postfor the Pulitzer Prize and I note his points in this regard. I certainly note his points regarding the young lady who lost her life last year through anaphylactic shock and regarding regulations that should be put in place. I do not know what is the exact legal position at present but this should not happen again in Ireland. I will find out from the Minister of Health what is the current position and what has changed since that horrific event, which took place last year.

David Norris (Independent)
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I thank the Leader.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Mullins also called for a debate on gun crime, which can be expanded to accommodate a debate on bail and sentencing policy. The Senator also highlighted the loss to the economy arising from smuggling activities related to cigarettes and fuel laundering. I believe it is possible to begin to discern some success in the area of fuel laundering. The Minister introduced some significant measures in the budget before last that are beginning to bear fruit in that area, whereby people are now being caught for fuel laundering. Senator Mooney raised the question of Ireland as part of the Commonwealth and asked whether this would be in Ireland's interest. He suggested the setting up of a working group and I will bring this matter to the Taoiseach's attention. Senator Moloney raised the review of the national parks and their workforce and I certainly will invite the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, to the House to discuss this matter. If he is unable to come into the House within the next month or two, perhaps it could be tabled as an Adjournment motion in the House. I also will get an update for the Senator on the report on living with neurological disease.

Senator Barrett called for a debate on the recently-published report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA. He also paid tribute to the late Jim Flaherty, the former Canadian finance Minister.

As he rightly pointed out, the Minister, Deputy Noonan, paid glowing tributes to Mr. Flaherty also. He was held in high esteem not only in his own country but particularly in this country where he has many connections in Galway.

Senators Comiskey, Cullinane and Walsh raised the issues of wind energy and pylons. In regard to pylons, I believe we would all agree that the country needs to have access to the best infrastructure and services at competitive prices but we also want to ensure that all the people get the best routes and technology when delivering on this essential infrastructure. For this reason the Government has established an expert panel, chaired by the retired Supreme Court judge, Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, to oversee the preparation of reports on the best underground route options for high voltage power lines currently being designed. The expert panel will decide the terms of reference for comprehensive route specific studies of fully undergrounded options for both Grid Link and Grid West. The panel will be required to ensure that the studies are complete, objective and comparable to similar studies of overhead options for the two projects and will report to Government. Both the overhead and underground options will be published side by side in objective and comparable terms before proceeding to the next stage of public consultation. That is the situation in regard to the issue of pylons.

Likewise, in regard to wind energy, as the Senators will be aware, discussion took place between the UK Government and the Irish Government to unblock the current impasse and the exploration of possible new architecture is required for an intergovernmental agreement on the export of renewable electricity and how it would benefit both jurisdictions. Following further discussions between the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the UK, since the London summit was held it is clear, given the economic policy and regulatory complexities involved and the key decisions yet to be taken by the UK Government, that delivery by 2020 of a midlands wind export project is not now a realistic proposition.

Senator Moran raised the question of the provision of mental health services for children and adolescents. It is one of approximately 15 items we have requested the Minister for Health to come here to debate. I will certainly raise the matter again with the Minister.

Senator O'Sullivan raised the matter of the forthcoming AGM of Aer Lingus and suggested that the Minister for Finance would use his veto in regard to bonus payments being made to senior staff members of the company. The Minister is well aware of this matter and I am sure he will give great consideration to it.

Senators Colm Burke and Walsh raised the issue of the problems facing the self-employed in terms of claiming maternity benefit and called for clarification on that matter. I am sure the Minister would be willing to discuss that matter with Senator Colm Burke. He raised this issue in an Adjournment debate last week and I am sure the Minister would be quite willing to discuss the matter with him and give him further clarification if necessary.

Senator Healy Eames raised the question of Rwanda, which was also raised last week. She also raised the issue of debt and repossessions.

Senator Whelan questioned the role of the EPA and called for a debate on its functions and role. I will certainly bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and hopefully we can have a debate on that matter.

Senator Conway referred to 18% of being people being treated on trolleys in Limerick Regional Hospital.

This is a very serious matter because it is at variance with the figures in many other hospitals for patients on trolleys. I am sure the Minister will be very concerned about the matter and take action on it.

Senator Marc MacSharry referred to unemployment in the north west and called for a strategic response in the region. I agree with him that it has the highest unemployment rate in the country, just ahead of that for the south east. The BMW region has suffered much in the past few years and I agree with the Senator that there is a need for a strategic response, as well as responses from IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, in the region.

Senator Aideen Hayden praised the action taken by Dublin City Council against landlords providing substandard accommodation, with which we all agree. She also called for a debate on the issue of rent supplement. I think I mentioned last week that the Minister said the date for the debate on the issue was 28 May.