Alan Kelly (Labour)

I welcome Senator Walsh's statement of clarification.

I agree with Senator Fitzgerald regarding the pay talks. There is merit in having a parallel process in the Oireachtas that would consider this issue, assess the debate and comment on what is happening. That would be welcome because there appears to be a democratic deficit to a degree in this respect.

I welcome many of the comments made by Senator O'Toole. We need a debate on living in rural Ireland in the near future. Many people I meet on a regular basis believe that rural Ireland is under attack or, at the very least, that a malaise is setting in regarding living conditions there. Communities are affected by the shops closing, post offices have closed and pharmacists in certain areas are saying they will not be able to make a living under the new conditions in their contracts. Even some churches have closed. It is a real concern. There is also the issue of the role of pubs. Irrespective of whether we like it, in rural Ireland the pub was the centre of the community, but that is gradually being eroded and nothing has filled the vacuum.

I share Senator O'Toole's view regarding a debate on the drink diving limit. We need to see the data on this issue to ascertain their value. I am not expressing my view but I have heard from many people in rural Ireland, as I am sure have other Members, that they believe that what is proposed is a cosmetic exercise rather than something that will result in a large decrease in the number of rural deaths, which would be welcome. These people are not convinced of that argument. If what is proposed is the right thing to do, we will support it. It is something that should be supported, but the data on this issue are necessary.

While the rural transport initiative is an excellent scheme it is underfunded. The budget is expected to be €90 million over the lifetime of the national development plan. Unfortunately, at the rate at which it is increasing — the budget is only €11 million this year — it will not reach that target. I hope that will be examined because the scheme is providing a great service to the elderly and those who are isolated. Two clinical reports were published recently which indicate that rates of depression are lower among elderly people in those rural areas where the rural transport initiative is in operation.

The scheme should be extended. Operators should be allowed not only to do point-to-point trips but also one-off trips, which they are barred from doing at the moment. In addition, the Departments of Health and Children and Transport together should devise a medical appointments scheme. I understand they have met but failed to reach agreement. Senators may not be aware that a number of community nursing and doctor's medical appointments are being missed by elderly people because of a lack of transport. A scheme could be put in place whereby the Health Service Executive would contract the local rural transport scheme providers to provide a medical transport service. That would be an excellent addition and I urge the Leader to use his powers of persuasion to convince the relevant Departments to examine that possibility.

I wish the Taoiseach the best of luck in his upcoming appointment in Washington. I know he has a job to do in representing this country and it is a great honour for him but it also affords him a unique opportunity to help the undocumented Irish in the United States and I hope he will use the opportunity to do so.