Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senator Darragh O'Brien rightly raised the issue of pyrite and the report. I understand the report will be published today. I will endeavour to have the Minister come to the House for a debate on the recommendations of the report early in the new term. The Minister will speak about the report's recommendations today but I hope he will come to the House for a debate.

I refer to the news that the chief executive officer of the HSE is stepping down. I am not aware of the circumstances so I will not comment. Senators Bacik, Mullins and Coghlan asked about the reform of the courts structures announced by the Minister for Justice and Equality. We can have a debate on this matter in the new term. Senator Bacik referred to the report of the justice committee on penal reform. I hope the House will keep the Minister for Justice and Equality very busy in the new term. Senator van Turnhout and others asked about the children's rights referendum. To the best of my knowledge, the Government is totally committed that this referendum will definitely go ahead this year and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, will be in the House in September and there will be an opportunity for Senator van Turnhout to raise the many points she has raised on several occasions on the Order of Business over recent weeks.

Senators Keane, O'Donovan, Cullinane, Whelan, Ó Murchú, Mullins, Barrett and others, asked about the pilot training college. I fully understand the frustration of the students and their parents as they face uncertainty. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, has been working with the Irish Aviation Authority and he has focused on securing the training records of all students so that all flight and ground training carried out to date in Florida will be credited towards the students' final qualifications, where possible. He is ensuring that the IAA works with other flight training centres to explore ways of facilitating the students to complete their training elsewhere either in Florida or in Ireland and that every effort is made to ensure as reasonable a cost as possible. The Minister and the chief executive officer of the IAA are agreeable to meeting representatives of the pilots and their families on Friday morning. I hope this will allow for the withdrawal of the amendment to the Order of Business. It is hoped an amicable solution will be possible.

Senator Walsh asked about the budget and the capital programme. The €17 billion capital programme plan was based on what the country could afford and this was announced in the budget for 2012. The additional stimulus of more than €2 billion is welcomed by everyone. Obviously the Government would like to pump in more money but the money is not available. However, we are still committed to €17 billion in addition to the €2.5 billion of a stimulus package which it is hoped will get people off the live register and back to work. This Government's first priority is job creation and getting people back to work. The stimulus programme will help in that regard.

Senator Gilroy and other Senators asked that the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall come to the House to discuss the problem of alcohol abuse, the question of the sale of alcohol and the problems over recent weeks. The Minister of State will be in the House before the end of September.

Senator Landy asked about health and safety matters and the working conditions in call centres. I am surprised that Senator Landy did not raise this question when we were discussing the Industrial Relations Bill recently as this issue should have been raised-----