Seanad debates

Thursday, 19 July 2012

11:00 am

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

----- the format for the banking inquiry. Senators Paul Coghlan, Gilroy and others asked for such a debate. I will try to arrange that debate in the new session. As I outlined yesterday the Minister for Social Protection will come to the House for a two and a half hour debate. Many Members spoke about the universality of child benefit. Those issues can be raised with the Minister during that comprehensive debate, which should take place on 11 October.

I take on board what Senator Cullinane said and as I said to him yesterday if there is a need for a further debate on poverty perhaps we can have a debate on the reports he mentioned at a future date. We will need to have the Minister in for that also. Approximately ten Senators spoke on the issue this morning and I hope at least as many will contribute when the Minister is here for the debate on the issue on 11 October. We will have ample opportunity to discuss it. It will feed into the budgetary process and will be considerably more than we had in previous years. We hope to have many more such debates in October.

Senator van Turnhout expressed her concerns about the case she outlined. I will bring it to the attention of the relevant Minister. She also spoke about child benefit, as did many Members.

Senator Norris spoke about the Order of Business. Along with Senators Quinn and Mooney, he also raised the matter last week and Senator O'Sullivan mentioned it again. Early in the session I sat down with the group leaders and agreed that when sitting on Fridays we would not have an Order of Business. I am not sure if that was related to the Members of the various groups.

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