Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senator Darragh O'Brien referred to an agreed motion on Palestine. I have no objection to a discussion on the matter by the Whips. I do not know whether they will be able to agree a joint motion. I am quite willing to allow the Whips to meet to discuss the matter. It is unlikely that we will have a debate on any such motion this week.

Senator O'Brien raised the question of St. Ita's Hospital in Portrane. As he correctly stated, Senators will have an opportunity to discuss such issues on Thursday when the House debates A Vision for Change. Since the new Seanad started to meet, a number of Members have requested debates on that report and on various mental health issues. We will have an opportunity to discuss them on Thursday. Given that the debate was requested by Members, I am sure we will have a full quota of speakers on A Vision for Change.

Reference was also made to the problem of distressed mortgages. It is a matter which the Minister stated he will address in the budget and I do not wish to second-guess the Minister on that.

Senator Bacik raised media ethics and the deplorable hacking issue in England about which we have read and heard. One hopes it is not happening here as well. It might be an idea to have a debate on that as soon as we possibly can arrange one. I am sure we all would like to join in complimenting Trinity College on its successes.

There have been requests from quite a number of Senators for debates on education, the future of the third level sector and so on. We are trying to arrange that the Minister for Education and Skills would come in here as early as possible in September.

Senator Quinn sought a debate on the cost of prescription drugs. It is a matter which was discussed previously here but it certainly needs further attention based on a number of articles which we read about recently.

Indeed, when speaking about Senator Quinn, I refer to Senator Daly's call for a debate on organ donation. That is a matter close to Senator Quinn's heart and he has raised it on several occasions in this House. It is possibly an area on which we can have a debate. I think Senator Quinn tabled a worthy Bill dealing with that matter in this House.

Senators Noone, Conway, Daly and others sought a debate on the Bank of Ireland building on College Green. We will endeavour to have the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, in here, not alone to discuss the College Green building but also to have an overarching debate on the arts, which is long overdue.

Senator Byrne raised the issue of the Family Home Bill. I received that only today and I look forward to reading it. Senator MacSharry has put much work into this Bill. I compliment any Member who introduces a Private Members' Bill in this House. It is not easy to do. We look forward to taking that Bill on 27 July when I am sure that we will have a constructive debate.

In response to Senator Cullinane, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, in his discussions on the radio talking about reports, was only answering questions put to him by reporters on last night's meeting. He was not making any statements, but answering questions.

On the Minister for Health, the issue of junior doctors has again come up. There was a five-hour debate here last week on the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill. The junior Minister apologised for the absence of the senior Minister because he had to attend a funeral out of the State on the day in question. Otherwise he would have been here.

Senator Colm Burke called for a debate on illegal highs and their availability on the Internet and elsewhere, and educating young people on the dangers of this. There is legislation but, obviously, it is not sufficient and needs to be addressed further. It is something which several Senators, in particular, Senator Wilson raised in the previous Seanad. We can raise the matter again with the relevant Minister.

Senator Leyden and quite a number of other Senators sought a debate on Roscommon hospital. Patient safety must be the No. 1 priority of any Government and any Minister. Whatever about promises or anything else, the patients' safety must come first.