Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I will first respond to some of the overall themes raised. A number of Senators have requested that the Minister for Health come into the House. Senators Higgins raised the issue concerning University College Hospital Galway. It is a concern if newborns are not getting their vaccinations in a timely fashion. As previously stated by the Leader, the Minister for Health will be in the House on 27 October. The Minister was in the House last night responding to a matter on the Adjournment. I suggest that specific issues such as the one pertaining at University College Hospital Galway might more appropriately be dealt with way of Matters on the Adjournment to the Minister for Health. The debate on 27 October will be a useful and wide-ranging discussion on health. The Minister can deal on the Adjournment Debate with specific health issues which arise before then.

I thank Senators Healy-Eames, Cullinane and Conway for raising the issue of human rights and the UN periodic review which concluded this morning. I attended the ICCL live screening from Geneva in Buswells Hotel this morning, as, I am aware, did many other colleagues. It was useful to hear the Minister, Deputy Shatter, respond to the questions raised in regard to human rights protections in Ireland. I agree with all the colleagues who raised the issue that it would be good to have the Minister for Justice and Equality come back into this House to tell us what happened at the UN periodic review and how the Government proposes to deal with the critiques on human rights protection that have arisen. I am sure we will also hear on the matter from Senator Zappone who, as we heard, is attending in Geneva as an observer. I will take up that matter with the Leader and Minister for Justice and Equality.

Senator O'Brien raised the issue of metro north, which is a thorny issue. Senator Barrett also raised that issue and spoke about the flaws or problems with the economic appraisal which took place in that regard.