Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Deputy Leader to ensure that the motion on the transfer of data between the EU and the USA returns to the House after it is finished being dealt with by the joint committee.

Since late last September I have raised the following issue almost every week, namely, the Government's inaction on the ongoing and increasing mortgage arrears crisis and distressed mortgages. A number of weeks ago the Leader indicated that the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, would come here but a debate has not been scheduled for this week. There has been a lack of urgency in dealing with the fact that one in seven mortgages is now in arrears of 90 days or more and the Government needs to address the matter. I know that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste - and Senator Bacik will state the following as her answer - have set up a special high powered Cabinet committee. The Government could have accepted legislation like the Family Home Bill tabled by my colleague, Senator MacSharry, and have something in place and ready for people. I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange at the earliest possible opportunity for the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, to return here. Last November he told me here that the Government would have published the mortgage arrears implementation strategy prior to the budget, and then prior to the end of 201 but it is now 9 May and time has passed.

Can the Deputy Leader find out when the Government proposes to complete the review of the community employment schemes? I ask for a commitment that when it has been finalised that it comes here for discussion

I also raise the issue of the refusal by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to rule out a waste water treatment charge, on top of the water charges that the Government proposes to introduce. Last week in the Dáil he refused to rule out the introduction of a waste water treatment charge specifically for people living in urban areas and specifically for Dublin. I would like the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to this House. We have not forgotten debacles like the household charge or the announcement that water charges will be introduced from 2014. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, needs to come to the Seanad urgently for a debate on these matters. What is the Government's position on the waste water treatment charge we are hearing about? Is the Government leaking the details of the charge slowly? Will it be used to fund the monstrous sewage treatment plant that is due to be lobbed in on top of the people of north County Dublin at a cost of €2.1 billion to the Exchequer? I ask the Deputy Leader to follow that up with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

I move an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Justice and Equality come to this House to discuss the specific issue of the closure of 39 Garda stations in urban and rural areas throughout the country.