Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Marc MacSharry referred to the proposed cuts to and the taxing of maternity benefit. Until 2012 when an employee continued to be paid by her employer in full while on maternity leave and, based on her PRSI contributions, was entitled to maternity benefit from the Department of Social Protection, the non-taxation of maternity benefit resulted in such an employee having greater net take-home pay for the period of maternity benefit. That was never the intention of the scheme and the taxing of maternity benefit will address that issue.

Senator Ivana Bacik mentioned bringing Ministers into the House for updates and progress reports on their first two years in government. We will certainly try to have that debate with several Ministers in the coming months. The Senator also said her Equality (Amendment) Bill would be introduced next week.

Senator Terry Brennan called for a debate on planning. We have had several debates on this subject, but we can certainly arrange another with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Senator Sean D. Barrett mentioned the death of Sir George Quigley. There is no doubt that he was an outstanding civil servant for many years. All Members of the House would like to convey their sympathy to his wife.

Senators Aideen Hayden and Labhrás Ó Murchú called for a debate on the education, in particular the future of private schools.

The Minister for Education and Skills will be in the House following the conclusion of the Order of Business but I will try to arrange a debate on that specific subject in early course.

Senator Cullinane spoke about the IBRC workers, which he also raised on the Order of Business on Tuesday. The Senator also raised the issue of commemorating the 1913 Lockout. That matter was brought to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and it was agreed that we would have somebody in to address the House on that.

Senator Noone referred to the importance of State bodies supporting Irish companies and buying Irish produce, a theme which Senator Mary Ann O'Brien also mentioned. Senator Noone will introduce a report on that matter in the coming weeks.

Senators Leyden, Coghlan, Mullen, Mullins and others raised the matter of the alleged murder of Fr. Niall Molloy and the need to establish an inquiry to determine the full facts in that regard. It is essential that the full facts be established and I will certainly bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality and find out the updated position.

Senators Colm Burke and Mullins raised issues concerning junior doctors, the difficulties they face when their two-year contracts expire and the need for the Minister to clarify the position before 1 July. I presume Senator Colm Burke will make representations to the Minister on that matter but I will certainly assist in that respect if he wishes me to do so.

Senators Norris, Colm Burke and others raised the developments in the Irish Examinergroupand the importance of maintaining good standards in print journalism. Senator Norris also mentioned that he was at a meeting this morning regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He might write a note on that matter to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee and ask if it could be dealt it by that committee. I am sure it would consider that matter.

Senator Keane spoke about the importance of preschool education and early intervention. We had an excellent debate on that subject with the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, in the House yesterday. I compliment all the contributors to that important debate. Senator Mary Ann O'Brien mentioned the Action Plan for Jobs. We will have a debate on that in the House in the coming weeks.

A question was asked about why Senators were not allowed attend yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I remind Members that the House unanimously supported a motion that Senators would not attend meetings of Oireachtas joint committees when such a committee was to take place during the Order of Business, sponsored by Senator Norris and others, a few weeks ago. That was a unanimous decision of the House. I believe some Senators have chosen to ignore it. If that is what they wish to do, that is what they wish to do, but they are not being told not to attend them. It was a unanimous decision of the House that was taken because it was felt that the primacy of the Order of Business was not being observed, especially in the joint committees, because although the committees are suspended when votes are called in the Dáil, they are not suspended when votes are called in the Seanad. That is the reason the House unanimously decided not to attend committees during the Order of Business. I ask Members to examine their consciences and see what they want to do. If they do not want to attend the committees they do not need to, but if they want to go to them that is their prerogative. I am only reminding them of the unanimous decision of the House in that respect.

I note the points made by Senator Mary Ann O'Brien on RGDATA, which is an important body. Supporting Irish products and Irish producers is very important. Like Senator Quinn, she mentioned the question of labelling, which has been raised in this House on a number of occasions. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine attended an important conference on food safety yesterday. Perhaps I could arrange for him to come to the House to discuss food safety, the horsemeat problem and the Common Agricultural Policy. There are a number of items we would like him to discuss in the House, but he is in Brussels a good deal of the time dealing with a number of these issues. I will endeavour to arrange for him to come to the House to discuss the subjects the Members have raised on the Order of Business today and previously.

Senator Mullen spoke about the pest problem in hospitals in Galway. Public confidence in our hospitals is essential. This is a matter with which the HSE and HIQA will deal and I believe they have dealt with it already. Senator Mullen also raised the issue of litter on our motorways and the fact that it projects a very poor image of our country, about which there is no question. Local authorities can act and have acted in a number of areas. We must remind people who litter the country by dumping litter out of car windows and in many other ways that this is unacceptable. We must have strong penalties in place for people who litter. Local authorities have a difficult job in that regard.

Senator Quinn raised the issue of crowd funding, which has been mentioned on a number of occasions at our public consultation committee. We all support the Senator's efforts in that regard.