Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This Government is committed to not selling Irish Water.

Senator Bacik requested a debate, early in the new year, on the youth guarantee and the medium-term economic plan. I am sure such a debate can be facilitated.

Senator Barrett referred to the McLoughlin report on health insurance. The House will be taking Committee Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013 later today. I note the Senator's points in respect of Seanad reform. I am sure the leader of his group, Senator Norris, will make those points at the meeting with the Taoiseach tomorrow.

Senator Conway referred electoral equality and the need to help people with visual impairments. I completely agree with him on that matter.

Senators O'Donovan and Comiskey requested a general debate on the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, with particular reference to disadvantaged areas and the changes to payments. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine came before the House to discuss the CAP a number of weeks ago and we had a very comprehensive debate on the matter. I am sure that he would be willing to return to deal with the matter in question and also for a debate on fisheries, in respect of which a request has been made.

Senator Hayden referred to an unregulated drug detox facility and requested a debate on the need for adequate drug rehabilitation facilities early in the new year.

Senator Quinn referred to narcolepsy. I thought the matter had been clarified by the HSE but it is obvious that confusion remains. I will bring it to the attention of the Minister for Health. I note what the Senator said with regard to the points made by Senator Barrett in respect of the issues with which the House did not deal in the context of the Finance (No. 2) Bill. I am sure everyone welcomes the announcement that UCD is to open a campus in Yantai, China, another matter to which Senator Quinn referred.. It has taken years of hard work and dedication on the part of people in UCD to achieve this goal.

Senator Comiskey referred to the upgrading of the N4 Sligo to Dublin road and voiced his hope that the project can be progressed in the near future. There is no doubt that it is a very dangerous road and I hope the project will proceed in early course.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien and others referred to the plight of charities and the need for the regulatory authority to be up and running as soon as possible. I dealt comprehensively with that matter on yesterday's Order of Business.

Senators Higgins and Coghlan referred to NAMA. Neither the Minister for Justice and Equality nor the Government is involved in carrying out criminal investigations. Such investigations are solely a matter for An Garda Síochána. Any persons who are in possession of information which might be useful to those carrying out the relevant investigation should make it available to the Garda. There are specific offences under the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 in respect of the inappropriate disclosure of confidential information.

An investigation by An Garda Síochána into a complaint against a former employee made some time ago by the National Asset Management Agency is at an advanced stage. It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation. More recently, in August 2013, An Garda Síochána received a separate complaint from a firm of solicitors relating to an alleged disclosure of information by NAMA. The Garda has been awaiting receipt of further documentation from the firm in question and will fully investigate any allegation of criminal activity. I again encourage anyone who has information of relevance in this regard to make it available to An Garda Síochána.

Senator Cullinane spoke of the lack of time provided for debate on the Water Services Bill. The House has spent 14 hours debating this legislation, including for three hours on Second Stage, and on two occasions on Committee Stage. The additional two and a half hours I have provided for debating the Bill today are more than adequate.

Senators Whelan and Kelly raised new planning regulations for electricity pylons and wind turbines. I understand a public consultation process is under way. This matter will be dealt with by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Communications and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, whom I will invite to the House in January or early February for a debate to ensure Senators have an opportunity to participate in the public consultation process.

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of top-up payments and the lack of transparency shown by the Health Service Executive in reply to members of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. It is regrettable that full replies have not been provided to members of a committee, as it would be in the case of any Member of the House. The Senator also questioned the governance of boards that are funded by the State. All of us will share his concerns about large sums of money being allocated to organisations which do not have proper governance structures in place and in which the State does not play a role. This is not acceptable.

Senator Crown proposed an amendment to the Order of Business to have No. 18 taken before No. 1 to allow his Bill to be debated tomorrow evening. While I have no problem in accepting his amendment, I ask Senators who are moving Private Members' Bills to give more notice. Perhaps they could give a week's notice rather than one day's notice when a Bill is being introduced. I will accede to Senator Crown's request in this matter.

Senator Wilson raised the issue of mobile telephone networks. I will make inquiries of the Minister to ascertain the position in that regard and ring the Senator back.