Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Thomas Byrne called for a debate on the reports of the Constitutional Convention. Mr. Tom Arnold came to the Chamber and has also agreed to come back to the Chamber to discuss the final report of the Constitutional Convention. I anticipate the debate will take place as soon as possible after the completion of the report. I note the Senator's point in respect of the difficulties of the HSE with recruitment of consultants. I am sure the Minister is quite willing to address that point in the Chamber. He will probably be in the Chamber tomorrow to deal with the Health Identifiers Bill and he has also agreed to come in later in February to discuss the HSE service plan. We will see a lot of the Minister for Health in the coming weeks. I am sure these points can be raised during the course of the debates.

Senator Ivana Bacik referred to penalty points, a matter raised by a number of Senators. She welcomed the referral of the matter to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The Committee of Public Accounts has also been mentioned in this regard. We all know the committee has a vital role to play in our democracy but so does the Garda Síochána. It is not in anyone's interest that a situation develops whereby one hampers the ability of the other to discharge its proper role. The vast majority of people who have spoken on the issue have welcomed the referral of the matter to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Senator Bacik and several other Senators raised the question of the Louise O'Keeffe judgment. I am sure the repercussions of it will be given time for debate in the House at a later time when the judgment has been examined. A number of Members have raised the point. Senator Denis O'Donovan mentioned the need for further legislation in this regard to protect children. I assure the Senator that if further legislation is required to protect children the Government will not be found wanting and will act in that regard.

Senator Quinn referred to school holidays for children and pointed out that, in referring to religion, the words of the Minister for Education and Skills were taken out of context. I note his point about more time for the teaching of languages and other matters.

Irish Water was mentioned by a number of Members. I will endeavour to have the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, address the new points raised in recent days. The matter has been dealt with comprehensively at meetings of two of the Oireachtas joint committees and in this House. Some Members who did not know about the revelations of the past day or two should go back to the debate on Committee Stage and Report Stage of the Bill. Quite a number of Members asked that local authority workers be protected, that they all transfer and that pensions be protected. Members should read the debate and perhaps reconsider their attitude to the revelations. The debate on Committee Stage and Report Stage meant that Members saw some of the things that have come to light in recent days from Mr. FitzGerald.

Senator Burke welcomed yesterday's announcement of 500 new jobs, which is great news for Cork and the country, as this will provide great opportunities for young people. I also note his comments on the number of people being diagnosed with dementia and the challenges that presents for the health service and the need for a debate on the matter.

Senator Conway raised the Garda Ombudsman case and the Louise O'Keeffe case.

Senators O'Donnell and Moloney referred to the youth guarantee and the launch of the Pathways to Work document. I anticipate that the Minister for Social Protection will fulfil her commitment to the House to discuss the youth guarantee scheme next week. I hope the Minister will be in the House to discuss the matter on Wednesday next.

I note Senator Barrett's comments on the report into the fatal air crash in Cork and I am sure that when the full report has been published and examined in detail we may be in a position to discuss the matter. I will bring his remarks on the need to spell out the advantages of the proposed national postcode system and the cost benefit analysis of same to the attention of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources but, as Senator Moloney pointed out, the ambulance service will be one of the greatest beneficiaries of such a system.

Senators Kelly and O'Neill welcomed the appointment of an independent commission to examine the pylon issue and EirGrid.

Senator Brennan welcomed the tourism data that was published earlier. There were strong figures in the tourism sector, which highlighted the success of The Gathering and other Government initiatives in that regard. Since coming to office, the Government parties have taken a number of key decisions that have supported the tourism industry. The 9% VAT rate, which was initially a short-term measure, has been retained. The air travel tax will decrease to zero from April, which has helped secure additional airline routes and capacity to Ireland. The Minister for Justice and Equality's Irish visa waiver scheme, launched in July 2011, has also helped numbers in long-haul markets. Everyone will welcome the tourism figures and I hope they will continue to improve in the year ahead.

Senator Healy Eames called for a better consultation process where education is concerned. Perhaps we can have a debate with the Minister for Education and Skills on that matter, which was also raised by Senator Mullen.

Senator Wilson mentioned Irish Water, and I have referred to that matter.

Senator Mullins called for a debate on the Action Plan for Jobs. I hope to have the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the House in mid-February. He has agreed to come to the House to discuss the plan.

I cannot answer the specific questions put by Senator Ó Clochartaigh regarding storm damage. If the Minister cannot give him an answer, I certainly will not be able to.