Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

We are not having a debate, but I am only repeating what Mr. Frank Daly of NAMA said yesterday. I cannot add to that.

I compliment Senator Zappone on her maiden speech. I can assure her that her respect for diversity is, and will continue to be, shared by all Members of the House. We look forward to the Private Members' motion this evening.

Senator Mullen made a number of points concerning the Magdalene laundries, which were also referred to by Senators Leyden and Norris. A committee has been established to investigate this matter and hopefully a restorative and reconciliation process will begin. I suggest, however, that we should await the committee's report before having such a debate here. It would not be advisable to do otherwise at this point in time.

As regards judges' pay, personally I do not think the proposed referendum is an encroachment on the independence of the Judiciary. However, Senator Mullen and I can agree to differ on that.

Senators Leyden and Byrne referred to Adjournment motions and the need for the line Minister to attend such debates. The line Minister will attend the House where possible. Senator Leyden knows that the practice of having one Minister to take Adjournment motions has been going on for a long number of years. It is not possible to have the line Minister in for all Adjournment motions but, as Senator Byrne stated, only a week or two ago the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, attended the House for a motion when he was available. In addition, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, also attended the House for an Adjournment motion. Therefore where senior Ministers are available they will certainly attend the House, as has happened already. It is totally unreasonable, however, to expect line Ministers to attend the House for every Adjournment motion concerning their Departments.

Senator Moloney rightly raised the issue of disability benefit and problems concerning her constituents in this respect. The Social Welfare Bill will be coming before the House soon, so she can raise that matter with the Minister at that stage.

Senator Mullins referred to the 2010 HSE report and I will certainly consider having such a debate. The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, has already attended the House and will do so for many other matters that need to be debated in the coming months.

Senator Conway referred to the iconic sign in County Clare and road signage generally. It is strange that the National Roads Authority would not have had consultations with the local authority involved before removing this sign. It is regrettable that did not happen. I will raise this matter with the relevant Minister.

Senator Quinn raised the important point of Sellafield and the safety audit to be carried out on nuclear plants throughout Europe. As the Senator correctly stated, the Minister has made representations to his counterpart in the UK. I will try to ascertain what reply, if any, has been received and will ask the Minister to continue to press this important item of concern for the people of Ireland.

I believe the matter of the Private Members' motion will be sorted out this evening such that we will have one common motion. We all want to see reform of this House and of how we do our business. We will all look forward to that debate during Private Members' time.

I agree with Senator O'Donovan that the referendum on children's rights should be held separately from any other referendum, which is contrary to what Senator Leyden asked for last week. I will try to ascertain the current position, the reason for the delay and when it is proposed to have this very important referendum.

Senator Ó Domhnaill raised the matter of the service provided by the Passport Office. Quite a number of complaints have been made about it and Members have expressed complaints about it in the past few weeks. I do not know whether it is possible to have the Oireachtas service for rural Members, in particular, but it is a matter we can raise with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore. Senator Ó Domhnaill also raised the question of having a decentralisation of the Passport Office. A very successful passport office operates in Cork. As to whether it would be necessary to have offices in other regions is a matter for the Minister and I am sure that he will give it consideration. I will also at an early stage try to arrange for a debate on agriculture and fisheries.

The committees will be announced tomorrow. A number of Members have talked to me about the committees and who should and who should not be on a committee and so on and so forth. I have tried to facilitate every group and every Member. I hope that tomorrow when all the committees have been announced Members will be happy with the committee to which they have been allocated. There was a question that some Members may not be members of committees but we ironed that out with the Government Whip and every Member will certainly be on at least one committee in the coming Seanad.