Seanad debates

Thursday, 8 November 2012

11:10 am

Photo of Maurice CumminsMaurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many Members have spoken about the children's rights referendum and its importance. We all agree that this is one of the most important referendums that we have had. I hope that the fact that it will be held on a Saturday will lead to large numbers coming out in support of it. It is very important, as Members have stated. Quite a number of Members have spoken on the issue this morning.

I agree with the comments of Senator Norris and others in regard to the "Prime Time" programme. The suggestion that foster families take children for financial gain is ludicrous and outrageous. It has caused huge damage, hurt and upset to many foster families the length and breadth of the country. The gentleman in question should withdraw those outrageous comments which were certainly not correct, to put it mildly. I urge people to come out and use their vote to protect children in the referendum on Saturday.

The question of family planning was mentioned by a number of Members again this morning. As I stated yesterday, if there was malpractice involved - I understand that the Garda has been informed - I have complete and utter confidence in the Garda in upholding the laws of this country. The Garda should not be hindered in any way in conducting its inquiries - I do not believe it will be - and I am sure that will be carried out. It is the duty of the Garda to investigate any allegation. If malpractice has taken place, I am sure appropriate action will be taken.

Senators Darragh O'Brien, Conway, Healy Eames and others raised the issue of the streamlining of student support grants. It is a serious problem, of that there is no question. To have students waiting for their grants for an inordinate amount of time is not acceptable. We know that all student grant applications are being processed by Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, instead of the 66 local authorities and VECs which were previously responsible for processing them. SUSI has received in total just over 66,000 completed applications for student grants for this year which can be broken down into three categories. Some 18,000 applications are now complete and have either been provisionally awarded or refused. SUSI is awaiting documentation on 21,000 of the applications. There are 21,000 applications on which further information is required and which were not filled in properly. The remaining 27,000 applications are in hand in SUSI for processing. I agree with Members that while it is an improvement on previous years it is still not good enough. The whole system will have to be fine-tuned to address the needs of students and ensure they get their grants faster than they do now. This facility is only up and running this year. Like the centralisation of medical cards and other areas where services have been centralised, it is obviously not working as had been intended, but I hope we will see significant improvement in that area in the coming weeks and months.

Quite a number of requests have been made for a debate on banking and the economy. Since this time last year we have had eight debates on the economy, finance, budgets and mortgages. In reply to Senator Whelan's call for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to come to the House, as I mentioned on the Order of Business, the Minister, Deputy Howlin, will be in the House later today. I hope all those who asked questions and want to ask questions on public expenditure and reform will be here to ask those pertinent questions of the Minister when he will be here this afternoon. I hope we will have a full Chamber because at least 30 or 40 Members in recent weeks have requested the Minister to come to the House to address issues and this is the opportunity for the House to have them addressed. I hope I will not see three, four or five Members here from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Let us put up or shut up.

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