Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator White, the acting Leader of the Opposition this morning, raised the question of job creation which remains the number one priority for the Government. As I outlined, both the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Perry, will be in the House within the next month or so to discuss the issue of job creation and the question of credit for small businesses. As Senator Mullins outlined, a ¤90 million microfinance scheme was announced this morning by the Minister, Deputy Bruton. Applications will be taken from this morning onwards from businesses and sole traders across all sectors that employ up to ten people and which have been refused credit by the banks, loans of up to ¤25,000. These applications will be accepted from today. I note the question of finance and credit for small businesses has been raised many times in the House. The Government is acting and will continue to act on job creation. I am sure all Members will welcome the debates when the Minister and the Minister of State appear in the House in early course.

Senator Bacik made reference to the former Minister of State, Deputy Shortall. It is regrettable when any Minister decides to step down from his or her post. The former Minister of State had been scheduled to appear in this House in the next week or two to discuss the issue that has dominated the Order of Business this morning and on which she worked so hard, namely, the misuse of alcohol. I will arrange such a debate but obviously it will not take place within the next week or two. Nevertheless, I will arrange a debate, as has been requested by the vast majority of Members who spoke on the Order of Business today, on the question of the misuse of alcohol. I assure Members the key commitments on primary care, as well as items in respect of alcohol abuse and universal health care, are key commitments in the programme for Government. As I stated in the first week of the Seanad, this is a marathon, not a sprint. People expect things to happen overnight but they simply do not happen that way. The Government will honour the commitments contained in the programme for Government. However, this requires thoughtful consideration and action, which the Government is doing and will continue to do. It will deliver on the commitments that have been mentioned today.

Moreover, another start was made on the reforms in the health system in the House yesterday, when the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, was in the Chamber. I think some Members asked that the Minister for Health come into the House without realising he had been here yesterday.