Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I thank those Members who wished me good luck in my first day standing in for the Leader. I have big shoes to fill, given that Senator Cummins has being doing an excellent job as Leader.

I will respond to the speakers in turn. I welcome Senator Darragh O'Brien's support for the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, on which we would all acknowledge much work was done under the previous Administration and which makes some very important amendments to current civil law matters. We will have plenty of time for Committee Stage and Report Stage debates on the Bill next week.

Senators Darragh O'Brien, Barrett, Mullins, Conway, Healy Eames, Sheahan and O'Keeffe raised the issue of the bonus culture, on which it would be very worthwhile for us to have a debate. The Government has already made clear that it expects leadership from the top and that no bonuses should be paid to semi-State chief executive officers for the time being. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, who was in the House yesterday and who was rightly praised by a number of speakers from across the floor, has set out his policy in regard to bonuses and stated he will initiate a review of the current system of performance related awards schemes for CEOs of commercial State companies. In the interim, he has requested boards not to pay bonuses.

We would all take Senator O'Keeffe's point about the meaning of a bonus. Clearly, bonuses have been paid where they should not have been. It is welcome, as others have said, that some high level individuals have waived their bonuses, but something more formal needs to be done.

I should say also that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, wrote to the chair of each State company in May, stating he is firmly of the view that bonuses are inappropriate and that payments should cease immediately. Action is being taken on this matter. We all saw last week the action of the Minister, Deputy Howlin, in setting out pay ceilings for CEOs of commercial semi-States and the wider public sector. The Government will ensure this bonus culture comes to an end. It would be useful for us to have a debate on this issue.

We have a very heavy schedule for the next few weeks, as Senator Cummins made clear, with much legislation coming to the House before 27 July, when we are due to finish the session. If it is not possible to schedule statements on some of the issues Members have raised before the end of July, we should come back to these issues when we sit again in September. Clearly, the bonus culture is one of those issues.

Senator Darragh O'Brien also raised issues about pension schemes in the public sector, in particular pension schemes for NTMA and NAMA employees. Again, these would be useful issues to debate with the Minister for Finance in the House.

Senator Clune raised the issue of the census and electoral reform, which was also raised by Senator Mullen. It would be useful to have the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to the House and I will ask the Leader to request an early debate.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien raised the important issue of a budget for paediatric home care and sought to have the Minister for Health to the House. We all take her point on value for money and the great work the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation has been doing in terms of providing home care for children with serious conditions. We will be having all three of the health Ministers in the House before the end of July on legislation. The Leader has been trying to get the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to come to the House for a more general debate. We will have a debate on health issues next week, so these issues can be raised at that point, even if we do not have general statements.

Senator Barrett referred to the bonus culture and also raised the issue of the earlier signature motion which is due to be taken without debate today once we receive a message back from the Dáil. I share Senator Barrett's view that this is not a good way to go about the business of legislation. I said this yesterday when it was also acknowledged a number of times by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. We are endeavouring to ensure we do not have this type of rushed legislative process in future. Given what we have just been saying about the bonus culture, it is imperative that the Department of the Minister, Deputy Howlin, is up and running as soon as possible. It was for that purpose the Bill was being progressed this week.

Senator Whelan raised concerns about the closure of Portlaoise accident and emergency unit. It is clear Senator Whelan was at the meeting last night, and, while I will not get into the debate between Senator Leyden and himself, Senator Whelan asked for the Minister for Defence to come to the House in regard to the possible consequences for staff of the Department of Justice and Equality in Portlaoise. We will have the Minister for Defence in the House next week for a debate on a defence Bill, so it might be appropriate to raise the matter then.

There has been a good deal in the press about the shortages of junior doctors. As we know, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, is trying to remedy that situation and to fast-track recruitment to fill the gap.

Senator Daly sought an amendment to the Order of Business in respect of No. 12, and I will accede to that amendment. As the Senator said, it is technical amendment to ensure the Bill can be published. There is no difficulty with that and I note the amendment was seconded.

Senator Daly also raised the issue of bringing in the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the concern about the failure of the Catholic Church to complete the audit on child sex abuse and child safety, and the concern about hiding behind data protection. I am not sure if the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is the appropriate Minister. If he is, it would be an important debate to have, and this issue was also referred to by Senator Mullen. We will try to arrange for that debate.

Senator Jim D'Arcy raised the issue of a united Ireland. I was concerned he might be conflating Sinn Féin voters with Catholics, which would not be fair to do. None the less, it is a matter that would be appropriate to raise before the Good Friday Agreement implementation committee. Senator Reilly also referred to this issue.

Senator Mullen referred to the issue of Deputy Healy-Rae and premium rate phone calls from the Oireachtas. While it is a matter for the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges, we in the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges are very aware that we need to ensure correct procedures are in place for any such issues that arise here. We certainly saw this in regard to the affair concerning former Senator Callely. The Seanad CPP will next week consider how best we ensure our procedures prevent this sort of thing happening in future because it clearly brings us all into disrepute.

I notice Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell hastily disowned Senator Mullen in terms of being a former student of hers-----