Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We probably will not require a Minister to be present to listen to the debate. We can have a constructive debate among ourselves on the document. I have only read part of it yet.

Senator Keane referred to Commissioner Reding and the issue of gender imbalance in the board rooms of large companies in the EU. As she said, the Government has taken steps with regard to the participation of women in politics through the introduction of quotas. I will consider whether to have a debate on Commissioner Reding's proposals.

Senator Barrett raised the issue of wind energy and windmills and suggested that a cost-benefit analysis be carried out. We will definitely return to that issue in the near future.

Senator Mullins referred to the report Senators received this morning from Alcohol Action Ireland. I have arranged for the Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, to come to the House before the end of October to address the issues raised in the report and to have a broader debate on alcohol. She has been to the House previously and expressed the wish to return again. We will facilitate her before the end of next month.

Senator Cullinane raised the HEA report and the Seanad consultation report and correctly pointed out that we must get a deal on our bank debt. I assure the Senator that the Government will continue to work on securing the best possible deal for the country. It is essential.

Senators Clune, Conway and Colm Burke raised the insurance industry. Senator Clune referred to the lack of insurance for homes and businesses in areas that are at risk of flooding. Each of the Senators spoke about the need for greater communication between all bodies involved in this area, with Senator Colm Burke mentioning local authorities in particular. I could not agree more with him and note the point he made relating to the excess on policies moving from ¤1,000 to ¤10,000 with some insurance companies. There is certainly an obligation on insurance companies to notify their customers of such changes.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the sanctions against fishermen. I agree that the vast majority of fishermen are law abiding. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be in the House on Thursday next week to discuss Common Agricultural Policy reforms and there might be an opportunity to raise that matter with him then or, perhaps, the Senator could raise the issue on the Adjournment.

Senator O'Neill has obviously just returned from the ploughing championships because he was able to announce the new agri-environment options scheme and the ¤154 million for disadvantaged areas which will be paid out today. I am sure the Minister will expand on those issues when he is in the House on Thursday week.

Senator Landy raised a specific case and I believe he would get a more specific answer if he tabled a motion on that issue for debate on the Adjournment. Likewise, the issue raised by Senator Kelly, an update on the situation with medical card assessments, would probably get a specific answer through an Adjournment debate. I realise there are long and unacceptable delays not only with regard to medical card assessments but also in many other areas such as invalidity benefit and carer's benefit. I am sure the Senator will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

The matter raised by Senator Daly is also a specific item. Rather than having a debate on the issue of driving licences, he should table an Adjournment motion and get a specific answer to the question he raised. The EU and the issue of federalism is a matter for another day. We will try to arrange a debate on European affairs in which the Senator can address that issue.

Senator Healy Eames raised education and training boards. The Minister will be introducing legislation but I do not know if it has been published yet. If not, we can certainly make representations regarding boards and the members of such boards. On the registration of deaths, perhaps the Senator would table an Adjournment motion to seek an update on the situation. She has raised the matter previously.

The same applies to Senator Wilson.

I will make inquiries about the delays in the Passport Office. Generally, it is very good but if it is not meeting the ten day target, something is astray and must be addressed.