Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In regard to housing adaptation grants, I have asked the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to come to the House to address that matter in early course. I hope she will accede to that request.

Senators Ivana Bacik, Aideen Hayden and other Senators raised the question of homelessness. Prior to Christmas I asked that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, come to the House to address that issue. I hope to have a positive response from her and that she will come to debate both issues in early course.

Senator Jillian van Turnhout raised the issue of the Child and Family Agency and the budget for same, which I understand was addressed in the Joint Committee on Health and Children yesterday. If she has any further questions on that matter I suggest she table an Adjournment motion to get a comprehensive response from the relevant Minister.

Senator John Crown raised the matter of waiting lists for dermatology. With regard to the document he gave me in respect of an alleged independent investigation at St. Vincent's hospital, I will hand it to the Minister.

Senators Denis O'Donovan, Hildegarde Naughton and others raised the issues of rural development and CAP reform. I have arranged for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to come to the House next week to discuss developments announced yesterday in respect of rural development and CAP reform. After that I will try to get him to come in to deal with the question of fisheries, a debate I had promised before rural development. He will be here next week and I will try to have him in shortly afterwards to deal with the whole question of fisheries, on which we have called for a debate for some time.

Senators Marie Moloney and Paul Coghlan raised the question of the Liebherr dispute. There is no doubt the company is of paramount importance in Killarney and Kerry. I agree that all the industrial machinery of the State should be utilised for the purpose of dialogue with a view to reaching a conclusion to the dispute which will be favourable to all sides. It is essential that dialogue take place as a matter of urgency in view of the comments of the company.