Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to change the general practitioners' contract. I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach could indicate to me the up-to-date position on that. There is major concern in rural Ireland about the real actual shortage of GPs. There are towns without GPs. Posts are not being advertised, or have been advertised but to no avail because no one is filling them. Many families are travelling 40 miles to get to GPs. This is causing real problems in rural Ireland. People are also concerned about longer response times from ambulances and so on. I think we are looking at a patient safety issue as a result of the under-provision in terms of primary care in rural Ireland. The contract, which is a central commitment in the programme for Government, is obviously a key part of that. The Taoiseach might indicate to me when the Government expects the contract to be concluded.

The Taoiseach might be aware that since 1996, some 209 women have been murdered in the Republic of Ireland. Some 131 of them were killed in their own homes. In the cases that have been resolved, some 86 women were murdered by a partner or ex-partner and a further 53 women were killed by someone they knew. Therefore, a total of 139 women were killed by someone known to them. In all resolved cases, 99% of perpetrators were male and 1% of them were female. I am asking about the Bill that will consolidate and reform the existing domestic violence legislation.

It is designed to add provisions to the present legislation to help victims of domestic violence. Can the Taoiseach outline when we will have that legislation and say whether it is receiving Government priority?

My third question is on the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill. Another report was published this year on Seanad reform following, to use the Taoiseach's own phrase, the "wallop" he took in the referendum, but no work has been progressed on it. The Taoiseach indicated to party leaders that he would implement a very minor amendment in the context of the wider issues detailed in the report. Are we to take it that the Bill will not be published before the election? It is reported in The Irish Timestoday that the goose is cooked on the 31st Dáil without any delivery on the promise to deliver a reformed Seanad.

The fourth Bill I wish to ask about is the disability or equality (miscellaneous provisions) Bill to allow for ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. There has been a consistent undermining of people with disabilities by the Government over the past four and a half years and we need greater affirmation in our approach to people with disabilities.

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