Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O'Brien commented on the Garda and resources for the Garda. It was a matter raised by Senator Noone as well. As the Senator knows, recruitment has commenced again for the Garda. On several occasions the Senator has raised the matter of patrol cars. I gather up to €8 million has been provided in the past two years for the purchase of extra patrol cars. The Commissioner has been told that the Garda will get any resource necessary to combat crime. I will invite the Minister to come to the House to debate law and order and resources for the Garda.

There was a call for a debate on the HSE service plan. I have asked the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, for that debate. He informs me that he will be dealing with the service plan in the Dáil first and that he would probably come in after that. However, he will be going to the Dáil first to discuss it there.

Senator Bacik remarked on the Bill being published tomorrow on technological universities. Certainly, we will have a debate on that. It is an important Bill for the creation of technological universities. I imagine the Minister will be willing to come to the House to discuss it in early course.

Several Senators have called for a debate on Syria. I have asked the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Costello, to come to the House next week. He has agreed to come to the House for a debate on Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The debate will take place on Thursday next. I hope that all the people who have asked for a debate will come to the House and contribute on Thursday next.

Senators Bacik, Mullins and Paul Coghlan and several other Senators commented on the expansion of the embassies to promote trade in particular. This is to be welcomed, as is the provision of a person for the reopening of the Irish Embassy to the Vatican. This has been welcomed and everyone has been generous in welcoming it, with the exception of Senator Mullen, who was far from generous in his comments. Everyone is different, obviously.