Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

First, I thank Deputy Higgins for raising the issue of the future of the Seanad and the method of voting in Seanad elections. As the House is aware, the programme for Government commits to a referendum on the future of the Seanad and that will form part of the package of reform proposals which the Government will be bringing before the House.

Second, in respect of voting entitlements, as the Deputy is aware, the programme for Government has committed to the establishment of a constitutional convention where both Members of this House and the general public can consider, reflect and, effectively, decide for the future on the voting arrangements and entitlements that people should have. That will form part of the remit of the constitutional convention.

On the issue of agency nurses, I am not sure if it is entirely in order but I understand that the position is that the Health Service Executive has introduced some new arrangements for contracting agency staff and I will ask the Minister for Health and Children to respond directly to the Deputy on that issue.

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