Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator John Kelly also raised the issue of Adjournment matters and having Ministers come before the House. Perhaps we can raise that matter at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges but at least we get a response to Adjournment matters that Members can take back to their constituents or whoever raised the matter with them.
Senator David Norris clarified the situation in regard to the vandalism of a property which all Members condemned yesterday. I am sure the Senator, like all of us, would hope the Garda will bring the perpetrators to justice as we would at all times.

As Senator Aideen Hayden has mentioned, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has been in the House more often than any other Minister. She is always welcome to the House and I am sure she will come soon again to debate the mobility allowance. A committee has been set up to report back within three months on the issue. The Senator also called for a debate on banking. We had a specific debate on 3 July 2012 with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, on banking, the economy and mortgage arrears, but we can ask him to come again for a debate on the same subjects fairly soon.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien raised the LRC proposals which we discussed yesterday. There is a need to give the unions time and space to make their decision. I note her point on the mobility allowance which we discussed yesterday.

Senator Thomas Byrne raised the question of rural roads which was raised by his colleague, Senator Paschal Mooney, yesterday. I agree there is a need for more funding for the repair of regional and country roads. They are deteriorating. I can see it in my constituency and throughout the country.

Senator Michael Mullins welcomed the fact that the Gort-Tuam road, the N17 and N18, is about to get permission to go ahead and that it will provide 1,000 construction jobs. That is welcome. I note his points and those of Senator Ned O'Sullivan and Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú in respect of tourism, the numbers for which have increased in the first few months of the year. That is another good news story. Tourism is important for jobs and communities throughout the length and breadth of the country. Let us hope in this year of The Gathering that there will be improved figures where tourism is concerned.
I note also Senator O'Sullivan's point in regard to equine maltreatment. I understand the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is appearing before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine this morning to deal with that specific subject. I share the Senator's concerns in that regard.
Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of rare diseases and called for cross-Border health co-operation and asked the position especially on rare diseases. We will try to get that information from the Minister.
Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú asked about tourism and the transatlantic trade development. I can assure him the Taoiseach will be selling the Irish tourism product when in the United States for his meeting with President Obama on St. Patrick's Day.