Seanad debates

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

1:00 pm

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)

I do not have the time yet, but he is due to come to the House. I understand it will be immediately after the Order of Business.

On the review of community employment schemes, I will certainly look into the matter. It would be useful to have a debate on it in the Seanad.

Senator Paul Coghlan referred to the wastewater treatment charge. It has been made clear that no water charges will be imposed until 2014. Therefore, that issue is not imminent.

The Senator also sought an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Justice and Equality come into the House for a debate on the closure of Garda stations. A number of other Senators also raised this issue. We can certainly ask the Minister to come into the House on some future date. He will be here tomorrow for two and a half hours to introduce the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill, but I do not believe he will be available to come into the House today. Therefore, I will not accept the amendment proposed, but I am open to asking the Minister to come into the House on some future date.

Senator Marie Louise O'Donnell raised an important point on the report of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on the rights of older people. Those hearings were excellent and I would welcome an opportunity to debate the report in the House. I have checked and understand the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, will come into the House to speak on it on Tuesday, 12 June. A debate has already been organised. I commend Senators Katherine Zappone and Susan O'Keeffe, in particular, for all their work in compiling the report following the hearings held in the House. Senator Rónán Mullen also supported the call for a debate on the report.

I will follow the Leader's example in not responding to Members not in the Chamber. A number of Senators referred to the report of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on the RTE programme, "Prime Time Investigates". The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, was in the House on 22 February for a full debate on media issues. I have no difficulty in arranging for him to come into the House again, perhaps before the summer recess. I am conscious that he has sought certain information from the board of RTE and that there are ongoing discussions. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to hold such a debate in the next week or so, but we could certainly invite him to come into the House before the end of this term.

Senator John Kelly raised the important issue of ghost medical cards, which is the expression being used. I agree with the Senator that it is a major concern if medical cards are being withdrawn simply because they have not been used. However, I understand a review is taking place of the numbers of such medical cards to determine if the persons involved are deceased or have emigrated, in which case it is clear an issue arises about continuing them. We could monitor the position and request that the Minister come before the House if it is an ongoing issue. I concur with Senator Kelly as I, too, have found some general practitioners to be very obliging in not charging for second visits.

Senator MacSharry referred to the comments of the Governor of the Central Bank, Professor Honohan, and called for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, to come before the House. The Government position is entirely in keeping with the Governor's comments on the need for a European wide strategy on recapitalisation. It continues to work on this issue, which may be a matter for a future debate. While I disagree with some of Senator MacSharry's comments on the 2008 bank guarantee, the House could have a useful debate on the comments of the Governor of the Central Bank.

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