Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is this the extent of the reform of the Seanad? On 12 occasions reports have been proposed on Seanad reform and not one has been implemented. We are proposing the establishment of a committee on Seanad reform to report within weeks. Will the Government's new Seanadóirí support this proposal?

On the issue of An Garda Síochána, the programme for Government commits the Government to supporting the new independent Policing Authority. Sinn Féin is very critical of the decision by the Government to only provide the Policing Authority with responsibility for nominating persons for the posts of Garda Commissioner and deputy Garda commissioner. Despite our efforts to get it to do it the way Patten did it, the Government has retained the power to make these appointments, which is unacceptable. However, my concern today is that, last Tuesday, the Cabinet appointed four of the eight vacant assistant Garda commissioner posts. Under the legislation establishing the Policing Authority, this was to be its responsibility and I understand it was to take up this responsibility in July. At this time of controversy and difficulties, why did the Cabinet completely undermine the role of the new Policing Authority in appointing these assistant Garda commissioners one month before the legislation is due to come into effect? What of the other four unfilled positions and the up to 20 senior Garda promotions we understand are to be announced shortly? Is the Government going to make these appointments also? Does the Taoiseach not accept these Cabinet decisions undermine the role and function of the Policing Authority and the commitment to it that the programme for Government contains?

A constituent of mine contacted me last week to express her concern once again at the failure of the HSE to agree the availability of immunotherapy treatments for cancer patients, specifically Opdivo and Yervoy.

This woman has been involved in a clinical trial since 2013. She is now in remission and her story is a good one, but other cancer patients do not receive these drugs or the new drug, Pembrolizumab, which one oncologist described as game changing. It is being hailed, along with the other immunotherapy treatments, as a replacement for chemotherapy and with significantly better outcomes for patients. It is also said to be cost-effective for the State. Delaying this decision will cost lives. Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister for Health to clear away whatever obstacles there may be to immunotherapy treatments and the use of these drugs?

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