Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Mullins and Leyden will be able to make the points they raised with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs later when she attends the House.

Senator Leyden raised the matter of the new electoral boundaries for local authorities. I understand it will go online at 5 p.m. this evening.

Senator Wilson raised the point, one which was raised on Tuesday too, about having some form of notification to go out to people whose passports are about to expire, like what happens with motor tax. The onus is on individuals to check their passports but I will make the point to the Tánaiste and Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade to see if anything can be done in that regard.

Senator O’Sullivan asked about the costs of coroners’ offices which are borne by local authorities. He made a good point that these would be more appropriate to the Department of Justice and Equality. I will certainly discuss it with the Minister so that those funds could be used to make up the decreases in the funding made available for housing aid for the elderly and so on.

Senator Noone raised the question of violence against women and welcomed the necessary changes Facebook has made in this regard. It was appalling what was going on there. As she stated, we did have a debate on this matter recently but I commend her on raising this point again this morning.

Senator Colm Burke asked about legislation on organ donation. I understand it is being drafted and I will ask the Minister that it be introduced in the Seanad. Several other Senators have raised this issue before on a number of occasions.

Senator Barrett raised the lax lending standards by banks. I welcome the fact officials will be discussing with the Senator and others, no. 25 on the Order Paper, the Financial Stability and Reform Bill 2013. The Seanad has certainly taken a lead on this issue and we should not be shy in making that point.