Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will get back to the Senator regarding the tests that are required for buses, both private and public.

Senators Labhrás Ó Murchú, Paul Coghlan and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh referred to the national monument on Moore Street and complimented the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, on his actions yesterday. I will invite the Minister to come to the House early in the autumn session to discuss this matter.

Senators Aideen Hayden and Sean Barrett raised matters relating to the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013, which we debated yesterday in the House, including the rights of tenants where landlords become insolvent. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, was very conciliatory on that issue and has undertaken to get back to us. He is fully supportive of the measures that were outlined. I take on board Senator Hayden's point regarding the health and safety issues that arise where children are living in apartment blocks. I will ask the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, if there is any plan to retrofit such properties and if she will come to the House to outline her views on the matter.

Senator Terry Leyden complimented the success of The Gathering and once again sang the praises of Castlecoote. I note his comments on the law relating to children in hotels after 9 p.m., a law that was introduced by his party in government some years ago.

With regard to the issue raised by Senator Barrett, I have addressed the matter of the exchanges between the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and Members during the debate on the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill yesterday evening.

Senator Higgins and others asked about protecting people against harassment by banks and about current law in that regard, which they say should be implemented and enforced more rigorously than is being done. Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of the Pearse's Cottage in Rosmuc. I am sure this issue will be mentioned when we have the debate with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, in the House. The Senator also complimented Senator Conway on the document dealing with the issue of people with a visual impairment and I too compliment the Senator in that regard.

Senator Healy Eames raised the issue of people at risk of suicide. We have had a number of debates in the House on that issue and we will continue to debate the matter. With regard to the motion on the Bill dealing with the abolition of the Seanad, the Senator can address that issue with the Minister when he comes to the House - from 7 p.m until 10 p.m. tonight. Senator Darragh O'Brien called for a debate on policing and I also note the points he made regarding the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill.

Senator Conway also raised the issue of mortgage arrears and people in difficulty and the threat to mental health. Senator Noone raised the same issue. As I stated last week, the Minister for Finance indicated representatives of the Central Bank should be invited to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform to be quizzed on the code of conduct for mortgage arrears. I hope this will happen. I join Senator Noone in complimenting and wishing safety and every success to Irish peacekeepers who are taking up duty in Syria and the Middle East.

I will find out for Senator Wilson when the commencement order for the Education and Training Bill will issue and will get back to him with that information. Senator Ó Domhnaill complimented the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on its report on commonage lands. I will try to arrange for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House early in the autumn and we can debate that issue in the context of a debate on agriculture.