Seanad debates

Thursday, 9 February 2012

11:00 am

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

It is under continuous review. Senator Mullins spoke about the reinstatement of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, representative in Belarus. The director general of the OSCE was in the Visitors' Gallery last week when the Tánaiste was present. I support him in this regard and I am fully aware of the links between his area of the country and Chernobyl and the number of children who come to visit the area on a regular basis.

Senator Norris referred to passports for sale. The Minister, Deputy Shatter, will be here in the afternoon to dispel any notions that passports are for sale in respect of the immigrant investor programme. I am sure Senator Norris will take part in the debate and outline his comments to the Minister. He also commented on the Finance Bill. The points can be raised in March when the Finance Bill is before the House. The Senator is correct in that the Tánaiste outlined that Ireland is seeking a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Hopefully, we will win a seat on the council.

Senator Keane raised a number of issues and she and Senator Gilroy welcome the return to the bond markets, which is a positive sign which should and has been acknowledged in the Financial Times and other economic commentaries. She also asked about speed cameras and whether there was to be a review of the situation. A review on speed limits and cameras is to be undertaken. I outlined that yesterday and will not go over it again.

Senator Cullinane asked for more time on the debate on the Croke Park agreement. We have arranged for a one and a half hour debate and it will be followed by another with another Minister attending the House. The timing has to do with the availability of Ministers to attend the House. We have planned for a one and a half hour debate. The debate was only requested two weeks ago but we will make more time available for debate on the issue at a later stage. I am sure we will get to debate the issue on a number of occasions, so I ask the Senator to be reasonable. This debate is a start.

Senators Walsh, Quinn, Daly, Coghlan, Ó Murchú and others spoke about the proposed motion mentioned earlier. I am disappointed that Senator Walsh intends to press this issue at this point. It is ironic that when we had the Tánaiste here last week, he was not even asked about the Pope's visit. I had to ask him to address that question myself. A question was asked about the embassy, but no question was asked about the Pope's -----

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