Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I found the arguments made by Senator Mary Ann O'Brien on the suitability of St. James's quite compelling and I am keen to support her call for the Minister to come in to examine the issue before it goes any further. Clearly, she knows what she is talking about through her involvement with the Jack & Jill Foundation. The issue should be looked at.

Senator Denis Landy mentioned the Bord na gCon report which I read with dismay. It is tremendously disappointing and parts of it are shocking. The dog racing industry is very important in the area from which I come, both for track and coursing dogs. While the industry is well run and regulated there, clearly that is not the position all over the country. I hope the incoming Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will respond to the report in a proper manner. The finances are disaster, not to mention the regulatory aspects.

As others have done, I wish the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, well in her appointment as Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party. She is a long-standing politician who has been around for some time and knows what it is about. In opposition, she was well able to tackle other leaders including my former leader, Brian Cowen, and indeed she made life uncomfortable for her own party leader. This is her chance to take a lead and to step forward.

I second Senator Averil Power's amendment to the Order of Business.

Part of the local government programme was to set up local community development companies, LCDCs. Currently these are being formed around the country. There will be a huge protest here tomorrow from the Leader groups who, to some extent, have been replaced by the LCDCs. In that debate we supported the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, because we felt it was sensible approach. However, there is much confusion and misinformation currently concerning the role of LCDCs, their funding level and budgetary powers. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, to make a statement clarifying how he sees the volunteer sector working with local government into the future.