Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Gilroy made relevant points relating to the sale of an Anglo Irish Bank subsidiary in Austria which should form part of the banking inquiry - I am sure it will. Senator Quinn raised the issue of generic drugs in addition to the traceability of food and the question of labelling. I understand Senator Quinn proposes to introduce a Bill dealing with that matter soon, possibly next week.

Senator Mullins called for a debate on Syria. I have asked the Tánaiste to come to the House for a debate on the conflict in Syria, with shocking loss of life. I hope the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs will facilitate the request to come to the House to discuss this topic and outline the Irish position. Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill requested the Minister for Finance to come to the House to discuss the recent revelations in the banking tapes. We will have an inquiry and I hope that the Ministers who were in place at that point in time will give their storey to that inquiry. He mentioned the recordings and so on. I hope there are plenty of recordings in the Department of the Taoiseach and plenty of notes in both the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance of the meetings that were conducted between Ministers and bankers at that time.

I agree totally with Senator Moran who raised the need for more hospice respite beds. She mentioned that in her country there are practically no hospice respite beds and it is the same in the south east. That is a scandal and a disgrace. There were plans for extra beds but the hospice movement is now being asked to come up with large sums of money in order to make a contribution to the provision of these beds. I do not think that is proper. Respite beds were provided in other areas of the country but the areas without them are being asked by the Department to come up with practically matching funding. These beds should be supplied.

Senator Crown also raised issues relating to the bankers and asked who knew what and when, be they bankers, Ministers, officials, the ECB and so on. I understand that will form part of the inquiry.

The religious orders should make a contribution to the women who worked in the Magdalen laundries. I believe everybody wishes the religious orders would make a significant contribution to this fund.

Senator Noone referred to the disturbing negative attitude to immigrants at present. The Minister for Justice and Equality has commented strongly on the matter. I hope he will attend the House to have a debate on the question of integration. Senator Sheahon requested a review of the bail laws and supported his call with statistics on the number of crimes committed by people on bail. It is necessary to have a debate on the bail laws and I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to debate the matter and if necessary to introduce legislation to deal with these matters.