Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate former Senator Deirdre Clune on her election to the European Parliament. I am glad that we have the motion in that regard before us today to formally mark her election.

I welcome the announcement made by the Government that it is taking up the issue of the burial of almost 800 babies from the mother and baby home in Tuam between 1925 and 1961. This is an issue that was raised first by Senator Hildegarde Naughton. A number of other Senators and I raised it yesterday on the Order of Business. I am glad that it is being taken up.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate in due course on the issue of policing oversight. The Government will publish legislation on GSOC, while the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality is examining mechanisms for policing oversight. It will undertake a fact-finding exercise in Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow to look at the Northern Irish and Scottish policing oversight bodies and at how we can best reform and amend our legislation to ensure better oversight of policing here. I hope we will have a debate on the issue, not just on the legislation on GSOC, but also on the broader and more comprehensive review the joint committee is undertaking of Garda oversight mechanisms.

I welcome the comments and the news yesterday that the personal insolvency arrangements were being fast tracked. Under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, we are seeing an innovative method used, whereby personal insolvency arrangements, PIAs, can be made for as short a period as three months. This clearly will aid distressed debtors. It has been described as a revolution in insolvency arrangements. Perhaps we might have a debate in due course on a review of the Act, how it is being implemented in practice and the innovative arrangements being made.

In regard to the Committee of Selection, I know the Leader will respond to Senator Darragh O'Brien on behalf of the Government.