Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

Senator Bacik referred to waste management. We will try to arrange for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come before the House to address that matter. The specific issue to which the Senator refers relates to Greyhound, the private operator, and Dublin City Council, the local authority. That issue should be dealt with by the latter, as has been the case in almost every other local authority area throughout the country.

The Senator also referred to the law on rape. I will endeavour to arrange for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come before the House for a debate on that matter.

Senator van Turnhout requested a debate on child poverty. We will certainly endeavour to arrange for the Minister for Social Protection to become before the House to discuss that matter. The Minister has appeared in the Seanad on a number of occasions to deal with social welfare legislation. I am sure a number of issues relating to child poverty were addressed on such occasions. However, I am also sure the Minister would be quite willing to come before us again. On 7 March we are due to engage in a debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, on a wide range of topics relating to children and their interests. There may be an opportunity for Senator van Turnhout to raise that issue of child poverty with the Minister on that date.

Senator Keane referred to a ban on the placing of posters on poles. As the Cathaoirleach stated, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government will be coming to the House to take Committee Stage of the Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2011 immediately after the Order of Business. Perhaps the Senator might take the opportunity to discuss the matter to which she refers with the Minister at that point.

Senator Clune referred to energy supplies and policy and Senators O'Keeffe, Mooney and Quinn raised the issue of fracking in Leitrim and other areas. The Minister addressed that matter in the House on two previous occasions. If, however, Members believe it is necessary to engage in a further debate on it, I will ask the Minister to come before us again.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh referred to the A5 and the £300 million in funding which the British Government has invested in the project. We would love to be in a position to invest a similar amount. When money becomes available, I am sure that the necessary works will be carried out on the part of the A5 which is located on this side of the Border.

Invitations have not been issued to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to address the Seanad. However, consideration will certainly be given to this matter. A meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges took place yesterday and there is a list of ten people whom Members would like to be invited to address the House. The matter is under review.

Senators O'Neill and Mullins referred to housing policy and housing waiting lists. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is due to come before the House for a wide-ranging debate on housing and housing policy on 28 March next.

Senator Wilson requested a debate on local government reform. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, came before us in the past two weeks to discuss the issue of local government. He will be presenting proposals on the matter to Cabinet and I presume these will be the subject of an immediate debate in the Seanad when they have been published. I will endeavour to have the Minister present in the House for that debate.

Senator Conway referred to jobs and the need to address the rural dimension of the jobs strategy. That matter certainly will be addressed when the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, comes before the House, hopefully in the next week or two.

Senator Crown sought clarity in respect of the hiring of temporary clerical assistants at a time when there are so many other vacancies in the system. I will raise that matter with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, and then revert to the Senator in respect of it.

Senator Moloney referred to boy racers. I understand the Garda has many powers in respect of this issue and also with regard to noise pollution. In that context, the matter should be addressed with the force. The Minister for Justice and Equality - who came before the House just last week - is a regular visitor here and on the next occasion on which he appears, the Senator may address to him her questions on the matter to which she refers.

Senator Daly referred to jobs. Some 6,500 jobs were created in the hospitality and tourism sector on foot of the jobs initiative. The Senator requested a specific figure and I have provided it.

Senator Sheahan referred to the proposed personal insolvency Bill and requested clarification in respect of the qualifications which those to be appointed as insolvency trustees will be expected to possess. I will raise that matter with the relevant Minister and obtain the clarification the Senator is seeking.

Senators Mullen, Healy Eames and Colm Burke referred to the visit of the Vice President of China. As is the case with other countries, our trade with and the investment which comes here from China is extremely important. As Senator Colm Burke stated, we should acknowledge the positive developments which have taken place in China. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has indicated that he will raise the question of human rights issues with the Vice President during his visit. It is wonderful that the latter is visiting Ireland and, as Senator Healy Eames indicated, it is important that we do our best to promote trade and investment between our two countries.

Senator Quinn referred to the putting in place of carbon monoxide detectors in people's homes. That is an important matter and perhaps it could be dealt with in the context of our debate on housing with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.