Seanad debates

Wednesday, 14 December 2011

11:00 am

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Therefore, we should get on with our business as best we can. However, I will try to arrange a debate on the matter early in the new year. I do not know whether I will be able to get the Taoiseach to address it, but I will try to arrange a debate for Members.

I gave notice last week that there would be gaps in the schedule of business on Wednesday and Friday because there was a possibility that several Bills would be brought before the House, including the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011 mentioned by Senator Ivana Bacik. We will deal with that legislation early in the new year. A number of other Bills were to have come back from the Dáil, but they will now not be taken until next year. That is why there are gaps in the schedule of business for today. Ministers cannot come here at the drop of a hat. They have commitments in their diaries to keep. Therefore, while it is everybody's prerogative to ask for Ministers to come here at the drop of a hat, it is not always practical for them to do so.

Senator David Norris raised a question about values. I am glad nobody was banging tin cans this morning. This question of being on death row should be forgotten about. Let us get on with our business; we should not be looking over our shoulders wondering about what might happen. I have the utmost trust in the people to decide what is right or wrong for this House. We can have debates on the issue.

Senators D'Arcy, O'Brien, David Cullinane, Cáit Keane and Fidelma Healy Eames are all looking for debates on different education issues. Some valid points were raised by these speakers and I will try to have the Minister for Education and Skills come before the House early in the new year to discuss them.

Senators Paschal Mooney, Mark Daly, Michael Comiskey and Martin Conway raised the issue of work visas for Irish citizens. We all hope the efforts being made to seek 10,000 work visas will be successful. We are all aware of the problems with the undocumented Irish. Senator Martin Conway highlighted their difficulty in not being able to return home for family events. Let us hope the 10,000 visas will be issued as a result of the work being done in the US Senate.

Senator Sean D. Barrett spoke about health insurance and expressed his delight that the Minister had arranged a meeting with the health insurance companies. Let us hope the meeting will bear fruit. The Senator also spoke about the Milliman report and hopes it will be circulated. I will check to see if it can be circulated to all Members.

Senators Colm Burke, Michael Mullins and Michael Comiskey spoke about buying Irish. This is a very important issue coming up to Christmas when people buy more goods than they usually do. I ask them to think and buy Irish. I am glad the printing of GAA tickets will be done in Ireland in the future.

A suggestion was made here a few weeks ago that during debates in the House Members have a few minutes each to present ideas for job creation in the new year. I hope to arrange this early next year. I also hope to have the Irish Commissioner before us to talk about job creation, innovation and research.

Senator Mark Daly has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business to have No.11 accepted. I was prepared to accept it, but the amendment was not seconded. It can be done tomorrow. As it is only a procedural matter, we can deal with it then.

In response to Senator Feargal Quinn, I do not think the option of peerages will be available to us one way or the other.

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