Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik mentioned GSOC. A debate on the matter took place in the other House yesterday. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission informed the Minister that after an investigation it concluded that no definitive evidence of unauthorised technical or electrical surveillance of its offices was found and that its databases have not been compromised. That is what the commission told the Minister in its discussions with him. He has requested that he be furnished with the report that was mentioned by Senator Bacik, namely, the report that was received by the commission following the security check on its offices. The Minister awaits the response by GSOC to his request. I am sure we will hear further on the matter.

With regard to the tragic circumstances that occurred in Portlaoise hospital, we all welcome the fact that HIQA is now investigating the matter. I am sure we can debate the matter when the report is complete.

Senator Barrett mentioned the possibility of a strike at Dublin and Shannon airports. The workers should listen to the proposals before taking action. The pension scheme is effectively insolvent and the trustees need to produce a new set of proposals. I can understand the concern of the workers. It must be frustrating for them and the companies to pay into an unviable pension scheme. It is a very serious situation but I do not think that holding a strike at this point in time would serve anybody any good, especially the country as it recovers.

Senator Keane called for more co-operation with Coillte regarding the provision of cycleways. I am sure the matter can be discussed with the Minister responsible.

Senator Cullinane referred to the loss of 27 jobs at Honeywell Process Solutions yesterday. I know how the workers and their families must have felt on hearing such news. With regard to the points raised by the Senator, certainly Waterford city has been hit more than most where unemployment is concerned. With regard to his point about having an equal playing field in terms of regional IDA grant aid, I understand the matter will be addressed when the situation is reviewed in July. We will see a levelling of the playing field at that point in time.

Senator Cullinane raised a number of other issues. The IDA is investigating if tenders are complete for the advance factory in Waterford. The factory is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

With regard to locating a university in Waterford, there is a need for Waterford and Carlow to get their act together and work together on a merger process that will satisfy the criteria, as a matter of urgency. The Government is quite willing to upgrade the Waterford institute to university status but there is a need for WIT and Carlow Institute of Technology to get their act together at this point in time.

Senator Cullinane alluded to quite a number of issues and I can assure him that the Government is fully aware of them. There have been 3,000 extra jobs created in the south east since the Government took office. We need a hell of a lot more jobs in Waterford city and I could not agree more with him in that regard.

Senator Landy mentioned using CCTV to combat crime, the need to roll-out further schemes and to enhance the current scheme. I shall bring the matter to the attention of the Minister.

I noted the points that Senator MacSharry made about GSOC. He also made a number of points about Irish Water. We have had many debates on the matter in the House. Fianna Fáil's policy on water over the years left an awful lot to be desired and based the country's water systems on itself - unreformed, costly and wasteful. That has been the situation where water was concerned while Fianna Fáil was in power.

Senator Conway mentioned storm damage. We should await the Minister's response on the matter.

I note that Senator Norris referred the matters raised on yesterday's Order of Business to the relevant committees. He also mentioned that there are a number of Bills on the Order Paper. It is my wish that we would deal with quite a number of them. As he can see, many of them only had two minutes to go on Second Stage yet people held them back rather than voting on them. Perhaps we should get the votes out of the way, deal with the Bills and get them off the Order Paper.