Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The Acting Leader of the Opposition, Senator MacSharry, made a strong point for having the Minister for Health come to the House. I informed the then Acting Leader of the Opposition, Senator Ó Domhnaill, on Tuesday that the Minister for Health will be here on 27 October to address questions from the House.

Education and health have dominated the exchanges on the Order of Business. Senator Bacik led off by calling for a debate on education, followed by Senators Mullen, Mooney, Healy Eames, Bradford, Power and others. The Minister for Education and Skills was in the House last week on the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill and he will be in the House to take more legislation during October. While it is to be confirmed, I have asked that he would be in the House again for a question and answer session and statements on education on 8 November. The Minister has been fair to the House and he has been here on several occasions to deal with education matters.

Senators Barrett and Power referred to the Teaching Council report and mathematics qualifications and so on. I have arranged that the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, will come to the House on 11 October to address the matter. All items seemed to relate to health and education. The Minister for Health will be in the House on 27 October and the Minister for Education and Skills as I outlined.

Senator Bacik referred to Dr. Manning's address to the House yesterday, which went off well.