Seanad debates
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Order of Business.
11:00 am
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Senators MacSharry, Healy Eames, Noone, Conway and others raised the Aviva announcement. All our thoughts were with the hundreds of workers and their families on hearing the news earlier. The job losses are yet another consequence of the collapse of the economy over recent years and as a result of the contraction in the domestic economy, the insurance market has declined by more than 30%. This is part of the legacy the Government has inherited and the Government parties are keen and committed to address this legacy. They have started to tackle the crisis by restoring confidence and competitiveness in several areas.
Over the past number of weeks, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has been in continual contact with the relevant State agencies on this issue. He has met global management of the company and he has spoken regularly with Irish management of the company in an effort to minimise job losses. The company has signalled the potential to grow new jobs in another area over a two-year period and the IDA is working with the company to deliver on that potential. Subject to the conclusion of the negotiations between the company and the workers over the coming six months, the full support of the Government and its relevant agencies will be at the disposal of those affected by today's announcement.
In contrast to other recent job losses, there will be a six-month period of negotiation and I note the company's ambition to achieve many of its targeted reductions through voluntary redundancies. Job losses will begin in April 2012 and will take place over a two-year period, which at least provides the workers with time to plan and provides the Government with an opportunity to seek replacement jobs.
Senator MacSharry also raised questions for the Minister for Health. I remind leaders of the groups that I wrote to them a few weeks ago seeking the submission to my office in writing of questions to the Minister by today. I hope I will have the questions that we can pose to him next week. Perhaps the issue raised by Senator Crown can be posed as a question to the Minister then.
Senators Whelan, Noone, Barrett, Conway and others raised the Priory Hall issue again saying it might be the tip of the iceberg. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will be in the House soon to deal with this matter and the issue of building regulations, on which many Members have sought a debate over the past number of weeks.
We all join Senator Whelan in wishing the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht well with his proposals to solve the problems of turf cutters and, hopefully, an amicable resolution will be found for all. Senators Whelan, Ó Murchú and others called for a debate on media ownership, fair comment and so on. I will endeavour to have the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the House in early course to deal with that matter. Many Members have raised the issue over the past number of weeks. The Minister was in the Chamber only last week but he is willing to return.
Senator van Turnhout referred to yesterday's report on the deaths of children in care, which makes serious reading. She made a good suggestion that the report be submitted to the Joint Committee on Health and Children to be debated at length. I will make representations in that regard to ensure it will happen.
Senator Mullins's comments on stem cell research and the EU Court of Justice will be welcomed by most. Senator Noone raised the issue of consumer rights and the reforms announced by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, which will be welcomed by all consumers.
Senator Barrett commented on the Priory Hall case and suggested that the snag man should be brought back. That is needed, as the role of the snag man vanished during the Celtic tiger years. The Taoiseach announced yesterday that the OPW will listen to further proposals regarding the situation in Clontarf over the next few weeks and I hope alternative proposals will be submitted.
Senators Mulcahy, Healy Eames, O'Keeffe, Jim D'Arcy, Cullinane and others called for a debate on the Keane report. We had a good meeting in the AV room yesterday regarding the New Beginning proposals. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance have said that the Keane report is only part of the process. I have arranged a debate on the report next week and I hope, as Senator O'Keeffe stated, that specific proposals will be made when Members make their contributions and that they will not digress into other areas. We should stick specifically to proper proposals and concise contributions on this important matter. We will have a debate for an hour and a half or two hours next week.
Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of natural resources. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was in the House last week and he dealt specifically with this issue. I do not know whether Senator Ó Clochartaigh was in the House-----
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