Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, referred to the very good debate on the Keane report in which the House engaged last evening. The Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brian Hayes, performed very well and took on board all of the points raised by various Senators. In the context of the Housing Finance Agency, I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien that there are problems with the shared ownership scheme and with people being unable to repay their mortgages. This matter can be raised with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Penrose, when he comes before the House on 16 November. Senators Ó Murchú and Harte will have the opportunity to raise the issue of homelessness with the Minister of State on that date.

I assure Senator Darragh O'Brien that there is no question of privatising the health service. We are trying to move away from the current two-tier system. I am sure there will be an opportunity to debate this matter further when the Minister for Health comes before the House tomorrow.

Senator Bacik requested a debate on political reform. I will be able to facilitate such a debate. I join her and other Senators in congratulating Ms Claire Loftus as Director of Public Prosecutions.

I am not going to address the conspiracy theories put forward by Senator Mullen in respect of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte. I am glad the Senator withdrew the allegations made in the House yesterday against the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter.

Senators Paul Coghlan, Bradford and others referred to the de Silva report into the death of Mr. Pat Finucane. The Government is continuing to press for an inquiry in respect of this matter. We understand that the de Silva report will be completed by December 2012. If the findings in that report are not acceptable to the Government or to Mr. Finucane's family, I do not believe it will be possible to rule out the holding of an inquiry thereafter.

Senator Bradford also referred to final report of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. I will seek to discover what is the position in respect of that matter and I will pass on any information I receive to the Senator. If a final report is forthcoming, the House could certainly discuss it.

In the context of the issue to which Senator Leyden referred, yesterday the House extended its sympathies to the families of Garda Ciaran Jones and the woman from the Philippines who, unfortunately, drowned in Monday's floods. Senators O'Keeffe and Comiskey asked that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine extend the period of time allowed for spreading slurry. I will certainly take the matter up with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government after the Order of Business.

Senator MacSharry called for a special debate on cardiology. I am sure the Senator MacSharry will ask the Minister for that debate when he comes to the House tomorrow to discuss health. Senator Comiskey also raised the issues of rural transport and rate supports for small businesses in rural areas. We had the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Alan Kelly, in the House previously to deal with the issue of rural transport, and we will try to arrange a debate on the other subject also.

Senator Cullinane mentioned possible treaty changes. The Government will certainly have a referendum, if necessary, on any treaty changes, but the Taoiseach has stated he does not believe a referendum will be necessary. I certainly do not wish to get involved with the responsibilities of the Minister for Finance with regard to bondholders.

Senator Mullen mentioned pay for personnel in semi-State bodies, especially RTE. Perhaps when we have a debate on ownership in the media, those matters could be raised. Senators Michael D'Arcy and Diarmuid Wilson spoke about lending institutions hiring people with previous criminal convictions to collect money. I raised this matter with the Minister after the Order of Business last week and received a comprehensive reply which I believe I sent on to Senator D'Arcy. In so far as it pertains to the Financial Regulator, the appropriate place to raise this would be at the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and I urge the Senators to do that.