Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We can certainly do that. We can have a debate on foreign aid also.

Senator Keane called for a debate on closing the gender gap and the recent OECD report in this regard. Senator Kelly raised the matter of charges for cancer patients. It is a matter which should be addressed. I understand the charge referred to is not a new charge but has been in place for some time, although that is not to say it is correct. Senator Barrett raised the future of the Church of Ireland College of Education. The Senator could table this as an Adjournment matter and get a full response from the Minister for Education and Skills. Senator Mullins outlined the benefits of foreign aid, which I have already addressed.

Senator Cullinane called for more time on the Social Welfare Bill. I believe two and a half hours is more than sufficient for Second Stage. As the Leader of the Opposition stated, I insisted it was broken up and that we have separate days for Committee and Report Stages. Before, we would have taken Committee and Remaining Stages on the same day. Two and a half hours is more than sufficient for Second Stage and there will be ample time on Committee and Report Stages to tease out problems in the Bill. I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business in this regard. When we had a debate on the report of the expert group on the A, B and C judgment several weeks ago, I was told we would need four days of debate on the subject, but it did not even last the two and a half hours allotted to it. We want to be careful what we are asking for as it might be granted.

Senator Hayden raised the plight of residents in Priory Hall. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to come to the House to give us an update on the resolution of this matter. Senator O'Donovan raised the matter of the report of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on older people, which recommended resolving the problem that arises due to the anomaly of the habitual residency clause. The Senator should raise this matter with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, on the Social Welfare Bill. It is an anomaly that should be plugged and, hopefully, this can be done in the Social Welfare Bill.

Senator Comiskey welcomed the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government of grants for the upgrading of septic tanks. I remember the long debate we had over several days about the septic tank legislation. The Minister said at the time he would probably introduce a grant scheme for remediation but only until the registration process was completed. He has done it now but he is still castigated for it.