Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

When I spoke during last week's sitting, I was not aware that Senators Cummins, Bacik and Paul Coghlan had formally been elected as Leader, Deputy Leader and Government Whip, respectively. I wish to place on the record my congratulations to them. Senator Cummins will be obliged to grow eyes in the back of his head if some of the comments made by certain Members on the Government side at the weekend are anything to go by. However, that is a matter for another day.

I welcome the fact that the Leader has indicated that the Seanad will sit on additional days. I suggest that the House should at least sit until 30 July. The Leader can take it that I and other Fianna Fáil Members intend to introduce a number of relevant and constructive items of legislation in the House prior to the end of this session.

As a new Member of the House, I welcome the comments that have been made in respect of reform. As a number of Senators mentioned last week, it is not just this House which needs to be reformed. I served in Dáil Éireann and I am aware that it also requires reform. I remind all Senators of our individual responsibilities to ensure this House is and is seen to be relevant to the people and can do the business for them. This Seanad, with the diversity and broad range of experience its membership from all sectors in society has, can be the best so far.

Of course it is right that Members raise concerns. However, change does not occur overnight in any walk of life, be it in the private or public sector. It is a great game played slowly. We have to be careful about what we do. We must examine our procedures to see how the Seanad can be reformed. This side of the House will be proposing innovative reforms such as that mentioned by the Leader earlier of inviting outside experts and European commissioners to the Chamber.

I also welcome the Leader's proposal to extend the number of sitting days. I believe the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday sittings are crucial. The Fianna Fáil Senators will be asking for certain Friday sittings too. It is no harm as we are here to do a job and must be serious about it.

The Leader referred to various reports including ones on child protection and employment regulation. The Seanad must discuss the programme for Government. In the interim between the Seanad elections, the 23rd Seanad debated the programme for one day. Many new Senators have been elected since then. The House deserves the opportunity to have a proper and meaningful debate on the programme. Will the Leader consider scheduling such a debate?

In the 23rd Seanad I raised the crucial report of the review group on State assets and liabilities. The Seanad's views on which State assets will be sold or which will not must be taken into account. Other matters such as how the Seanad can represent the Irish abroad must also be debated.

The Leader will find this side of the House to be robust in opposition and debate. I urge him to ensure the House sits until 30 July and not just for the sake of it. There is real business to be done. This is an open forum in which every Senator must be able to raise issues and matters which they believe are important.

Will the Leader clarify the position on the household management charge announced yesterday by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government? The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon claimed the charge will not be in place and any charge on water metering will only come in on the basis of the metering being completed. Will the Leader clarify the Government's position on this?

Last night, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, spoke on RTE about the future of the fair deal scheme. This is a concern for all of us. Thousands of families cannot access the scheme. The Minister is holding a review of the scheme, which we welcome, and is set to be completed by Friday. He will then make a statement on the matter on Monday. This will be the most crucial issue of how the elderly are cared for. Will the Leader arrange for a debate with the Minister for Health and Children on the operation of the fair deal scheme as soon as possible?