Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senators Mac Conghail, Keane and Healy Eames raised the issue of the Cloyne report. As we know, the Cloyne report will be published today and copies will be made available to all Members of the House. My office was in contact with the office of the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to inquire when the Minister could come to the House to outline details and developments on child protection and priorities for her Department. She advised us of the Cloyne report being published today and noted that the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will announce a series of measures today which will provide the basis for a measurably strengthened system of child protection.

Arrangements have been made to give victims groups an opportunity this morning to have a preview of the report. The HSE and voluntary groups who operate victim helplines, have made arrangements to offer support to anyone who may be affected by the contents of the report and who wishes to contact them. The Garda Síochána is also operating a dedicated telephone line for anyone who wishes to provide information in regard to the report or a criminal offence arising from it. I would encourage anyone who has such information to report it.

The House will no doubt discuss the findings of the report, and requests for such a debate have been made today. I will endeavour to have that report debated before we conclude at the end of the month.

Senator Mac Conghail referred to the President of the European Parliament. I believe everything went off quite well yesterday. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges met yesterday and will reconvene on Thursday next. The petitions committee has been activated and terms of reference are being drawn up and will be decided upon on Thursday, so we are making progress in that regard.

Senator Mullen talked of the issue of spin and the Smithwick report. The Minister's response in this House last week was far from spin and I thought he was very clear and unambiguous in his comments to Senator Mullen on that matter.

Senator White asked that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation would come to the House. The Minister of State, Deputy Perry, was in the House on two occasions dealing with the jobs initiative but we will endeavour to get the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to the House also.

I dealt yesterday with the matter raised by Senator O'Sullivan in regard to a debate on the arts, which is long overdue. We will try to get the Minister to come to the House, if not before the end of the month, then early in the new term.

Senators Marie-Louise O'Donnell and Paul Coghlan raised the matter of the banks in regard to directors, including private interest directors, and CEOs. It is about time, as has been said in the House by many Senators, that the banks are cleaned out and that those who were there prior to the crisis should not be in position at this time.

Senator Norris raised the issue of the rating agencies, with which I have dealt. The Senator also suggested there would be cuts in fuel allowances. I have no information as yet on whether there will be cuts in fuel allowances. That is a matter for the budget which we will have to await.