Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I dealt with Senator Conway's point on education.

Senator MacSharry raised a question on agreements with ambulance staff. I will try to find out the answer to that from the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and get back to the Senator. Senator MacSharry also spoke of mortgage arrears. The Government's economic management council has been asked to form an interdepartmental group which is set to consider the further necessary actions to alleviate the problem of mortgage indebtedness. The Minister, Deputy Noonan, has agreed to come in to a debate here by mid-October when we will have ample opportunity. Measures may even be in place by then to help those indebted with mortgages.

Senator Moloney raised student contributions and rightly pointed out the existing anomalies. She probably should consider it as a matter for the Adjournment to be dealt with by the Minister for Finance, and she may get answers.

Senator Noone raised NAMA. Certainly, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, is in ongoing discussions with NAMA on releasing stocks for social housing, which would be desirable. A number of Senators have asked that the Minister come in also and he has given a commitment that he will be in the House for a debate on a wide range of issues under his remit by the end of October.

Senator Daly referred to blaming of previous Governments. The former Leader of this House blamed Governments dating back nearly to the 1920s when he was in this position and I have no intention of doing this.