Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senator Fiach Mac Conghail mentioned the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. Certainly, there is a lack of media interest in public consultation and this House. This is an issue that will have to be addressed. The Senator also asked for a debate on racism which can be arranged in the new year.

Senator David Norris has informed the House that the European system is doomed. I hope he is not correct. He also called for a wider debate on the economy, as did Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú. While a budgetary debate will take place next week, I agree that we need to have a more wide-ranging debate on the economy in the new year.

Senator Tom Sheahan asked for a debate on the less well-off in society. This issue could be included in the debate on the economy.

Senator Terry Leyden called for a debate on funding for people with disabilities. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has made it perfectly clear that €900,000 was spent on administration by the head office of the organisation concerned. She has rightly said funding should be spent directly on providing service for people with disabilities. Senator Martin Conway has sought a debate on the issue on the Adjournment. He also called for a debate on the economy.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien expressed her dismay at the lack of a debate on pre-budget submissions. As stated yesterday, the Minister for Finance is fully aware of all the pre-budget submissions made by parties and organisations and will take them into consideration when framing his budget. As other Senators stated, I will agree - please God - to arrange a pre-budget debate next year, well in advance of the budget, to allow everybody an opportunity to have his or her say.

Senators Catherine Noone, Mary White, Rónán Mullen and Colm Burke, among others, called for a debate on the issue of suicide and raised the possibility of having it as the subject of discussion at the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. The committee will consider that request. Prior to the death of Gary Speed, I had arranged a debate on the issue. The Minister of State had confirmed that she would come to the House on 12 January to deal with it.

Senator Sean D. Barrett raised the matter of reports, with particular reference to VHI and Quinn Healthcare. The Government is considering a range of issues on the future structure of the private health insurance market. No decision has been made on the matter yet. It is a complex area, as the Senator knows, and it requires careful consideration. In the first instance, the State must take action to address the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice, which removed the VHI's derogation from being authorised by the Financial Regulator. The Government also wants to rebalance the spread of risks in the health insurance market because at present most of the older and sicker customers are with the VHI. This makes effective competition very difficult. An option being considered is that the State would buy Quinn Healthcare, which is currently for sale, and merge it with the VHI. It would then be split into a number of companies with a more even risk profile. The Government has made no decision on the matter yet and its main concern is to act upon the judgment by the European Court of Justice on the VHI. The Government is examining the issues urgently and will make a decision shortly. The first priority is to ensure a well functioning health insurance market that provides choice at competitive prices for customers.

Senator Gilroy raised the issue of the potency of cannabis grown in Ireland. I will try to arrange a debate early in the new year on drug abuse. Having Members of any House promoting drug abuse and the use of cannabis is not to be encouraged.

Senator Cullinane, Senator Coghlan and other Senators asked about the ESRI report. It is welcome that the ESRI is projecting a return to growth in the economy this year, with the first annual increase in real GDP since 2007. The ESRI is predicting stronger growth this year than most other economic commentators. The institute is also forecasting that the economy will continue to expand in 2012 but now expects much weaker growth than it did previously. This reflects the volatile European and international environment, and it expects growth of 0.9% next year, which is below other forecasts. It also argued that the agreement reached at the end of October in Brussels is not an adequate solution in the view of the institution and that the ECB must provide directly or indirectly the funds Government needs to fully capitalise the banks and reduce Greek debt to a manageable level. We might have a debate on the ESRI annual report in the new year.

Senator O'Neill asked about the vacancy in the Department of Health for an Assistant Secretary responsible for medical research. We will ascertain the position with the Minister for Health on this subject.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan asked about the resignation of the president of the Olympic Council from the committee dealing with the Olympics. Several teams have committed to come to Ireland prior to the Olympics and the Minister is working hard to attract further teams to come here. I will take up the matter regarding the athletics track in Belfield. The Senator might raise the issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Ring; he is waiting to come into the House to address Second Stage of a Bill after the Order of Business.

Senator Keane asked about the HSE not paying travel expenses to some staff. All staff in the HSE should be paid on time. It is not acceptable that staff are not paid on time and we urge the HSE to act swiftly and to pay the entitlements that staff are due in a timely manner.

Senator Quinn mentioned having a pre-budget debate. We can look at this next year and have a debate well in advance of the budget.

Senator Colm Burke asked about the scrutiny of EU directives and reports, a matter he has raised in this House previously. I am informed the committees are dealing with all EU scrutiny matters. I am favourably disposed to debating EU legislation but it will require more resources to have such debates in the House. We could hold such debates on Mondays or Fridays. If we can arrange such debates we will.

Senators Ó Murchú and Norris agree on the need for a debate on the economy and the outflow of funds. The flow of funds out of the country has ceased since the Government acted on the banks and undertook to capitalise them.

Senator Harte called for a debate on the reports on the diocese of Raphoe. There are reports today on six dioceses, Raphoe, Derry, Ardagh, Kilmore, Tuam and Dromore, and it is to be welcomed that the reports are to be published today. It is important for transparency, public confidence and to support much of the good work that has been done in the Catholic Church on child protection. I hope all future reports by the dioceses will similarly be published. The Minister and the Government will consider the reports once they are published. Child protection is a serious issue for every organisation working with children. It is important that organisations comply with child protection rules and that the public is vigilant in monitoring child protection standards and reporting concerns. This is one of the key social priorities of this Government and I welcome the work already done by many organisations in Ireland working with children on enhanced protection.

We join Senator Mullen in congratulating the new Minister for Health in Libya and wish her every success.

Senator Mullins asked about a debate on the "Prime Time Investigates" programme and called for another matter to be addressed. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, will reply in due course to the Senator on that matter and hopefully he will accede to the request.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh asked for a debate on the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. We will arrange such a debate in the new year. Unfortunately because of the amount of legislation that will come to the House in the coming weeks, it will be impossible to slot statements in anywhere. We will deal with legislation all the way from now until Christmas.

Senator D'Arcy called for a worthwhile all-party motion and I will talk to him about it after we finish the Order of Business.

Senator Crown asked about the future of the Seanad and the possibility of the Taoiseach coming into the House to discuss constitutional reform and the future of the House. I will ask the Taoiseach about the matter but he is totally committed to having a referendum on the future of the Seanad. He has made that perfectly clear for well over a year.