Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not a joking matter, of course. We saw the seriousness of the situation when a child in London was attacked in its pram. I will convey the Senator's concerns to the Minister.

Senator Hayden referred to proceedings at the Constitutional Convention and called for a debate on the welfare of families and related matters arising out of those deliberations. I have requested that the chairman of the convention come into the House for such a debate. I assure the Senator that I will reactivate that request to see how we can proceed on this matter.

Senators Noone and Conway referred to the news of Ryanair expanding its services and creating more jobs. This is a very welcome outcome of the abolition of the travel tax. There is plenty to be said about the chief executive officer of that company but whether we like him or not, he certainly is a man of his word.

Senator Conway also lauded the beauty of County Clare. He is becoming almost as impressive as Senator Paul Coghlan in the latter's affection for Killarney.

I will accede to Senator Daly's request to amend the Order of Business to allow him to place his Bill on the Order Paper. I note Senator Paul Coghlan's point that taxpayers have bailed out Newbridge Credit Union to the tune of more than €54 million.

It is a serious issue. On the Order of Business this week it has been pointed out that many people who founded the credit union movement would cringe at credit unions giving out loans of over €3 million, irrespective of whether they were in the Irish League of Credit Unions. In many cases, they gave out loans of over €500,000. These points must be taken into consideration also.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames raised the matter of the agenda of the Reform Alliance, about which we will hear more in the coming months. She called for reform of the public service. This Government has undertaken greater reform of the public service than any other in the history of the State and will continue to do so. We had the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in the Chamber yesterday and he will return in the coming weeks when I am sure the Senator can tease out these problems with him.

Senators Fidelma Healy Eames and Jim Walsh raised the issue of health insurance. I hope to have the Minister for Health in the Chamber in the next few weeks, when a Bill dealing with health insurance will be before the House.