Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad nobody lost his or her voice over the summer recess. I believe 30 Senators spoke on the Order of Business today and I will try to address each as quickly as possible. Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the issue of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, IBRC, mortgage holders and asked when there will be further legislation.

I will certainly try to find that out. The Senator also raised the issue of drugs for multiple sclerosis sufferers. I gave a very comprehensive report on that matter when he first raised the matter here but I will ask the Minister about the up-to-date position in that regard. The matter of immigration staff at our airports and the redeployment of gardaí was also raised by Senator O'Brien but he knows that such redeployment is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and not the Minister.

Senator Bacik welcomed the very positive economic indicators of recent weeks and months and commented on the Government's ambitious legislative schedule. She called for a debate on the review of penal policy which was announced recently and I will try to facilitate such a debate. Senator van Turnhout spoke about the periodic review of human rights in Geneva and called for a debate on its recommendations. I will make inquiries of the Minister in that regard. I note the points she made regarding child pageants and I join her in welcoming the fact that such pageants will not be held here or in Northern Ireland in future. The Senator also raised the report from the Inspector of Prisons and welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Justice and Equality of the closure of the separation unit in Mountjoy Prison.

Senator Norris welcomed the review of waste collection services announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and also highlighted the plight of residents in city centre areas in that context. Senators Comiskey and Jim D'Arcy welcomed the appointment of Deputy Phil Hogan as EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. They also highlighted the importance of safety on farms and called for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine on the issue.

Senator MacSharry called for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House to debate the beef crisis. The Minister is certainly doing everything possible within existing laws and regulations to address this matter and will continue to do so. Senator Hayden spoke about the need for accommodation for the homeless. She pointed out that there are currently 153 families in hotels and other temporary accommodation and called for a debate on housing and our housing strategy. I will certainly invite the Minister of State to the House to discuss that matter, which is a very pressing one. I understand that the Government will be making a policy announcement in that regard in the coming weeks.

Senator Zappone raised the matter of legislation in the House. She pointed out that we have only one Bill before us today and another one tomorrow. We will have three or four legislative items to deal with next week. She asked for a progress report on several Bills in particular. She also called for a debate on international tax regimes and the OECD report, as did Senator Michael D'Arcy. On the university legislation, we had a debate on the heads of that Bill before the recess and I have been assured that the legislation dealing with the Seanad elections will be ready early in the new year.

Senator Barrett commented on our recent debate on Gaza which was very constructive. The Minister indicated to me yesterday that he was willing to come back to the House and report progress on the matters we debated and I have asked him to slot such a debate into his diary as soon as possible. Senator Barrett also expressed his condolences to the Reynolds and Paisley families and I am sure all Members of the House would wish to be associated with that. The Senator also raised the issue of the airport authorities and what he described as the "regulatory capture" by those authorities. He called for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come to the House to address the matter.

Senator Mullins outlined the disturbing circumstances surrounding the death of a Galway man in Germany. I would urge him to consider tabling an Adjournment motion on the matter so that he can get a clear response from the relevant Department.

Senators Cullinane and Crown referred to universal health insurance. Legislation was introduced to provide free medical cards for those aged under six years and there will be legislation, as outlined in the Government programme, for those aged over 70. I assure the Senators that universal health insurance has not been abolished, rather these are moves towards that.

Senator Gilroy referred to contractors employing subcontractors for the construction of a school in Dublin who are paid only €5 an hour. If that is correct, it is absolutely disgraceful. I am sure the Minister for Education and Skills will take this matter up with the contractors. Paying workers that type of wage is totally unacceptable and any right-thinking person would consider it unacceptable for contractors to be allowed to get away with it.

Senator Leyden called for a debate on water charges. We had a very comprehensive debate on Irish Water in the House over a number of days. I remind the Senator that people would have paid a €400 charge for the past two years if Fianna Fáil had managed to get back into power. That is what it signed up to.

Senator Naughton outlined progress on the economic front, on which I am sure we will have debates in the coming weeks.

Senator Landy referred to the sale of Hayes Hotel in Thurles. It is good news that the history of the GAA will be maintained, as outlined by Senator Landy. He also outlined the success of the Wild Atlantic Way and the need for a GAA way as a means of progressing tourism in other areas of the country.

Senator O'Sullivan referred to retirement payments for county councillors. As he correctly pointed out, the long-serving members received an amount equivalent to €30 a week. They do not receive a pension, contrary to what was said by some commentators. We will invite the new Minister to come to the House to discuss revised payments. Conference payments have been almost totally abolished by the Minister. It is something we should discuss with the Minister in the House.

Senator Michael D'Arcy referred to the OECD report on taxation issues and called for a full and open debate in the House. I will inquire as to the availability of the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator Healy Eames has tabled a Bill on the Order Paper, namely the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2014. The normal process is for Private Members' Bills to be done through groups. I understand the Senator will try to do that and she also indicated she will contact the Minister, Deputy Noonan. It might help me if he said he would like to take the Bill.

Senator Paul Coghlan outlined, as is normal, the benefits of Killarney House and gardens, the tourism aspect of Killarney and how beautiful it is. We will have to make him an ambassador for Killarney. I am sure the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, who is in the Gallery, will take on board everything the Senator said.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh welcomed the appointment of the Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs and called for a debate on the CEDRA initiatives. We will try to arrange that. As regards the powers of the CEOs in local government, it was part of the local government Bill which we recently debated comprehensively in the House.

However, I take on board the Senator's comments in that regard. If he wishes to raise the case he mentioned on the Adjournment, I am sure the Cathaoirleach will accommodate it.

Senator Jim D'Arcy referred to the importance of Food Harvest 2020 and the need for a system of transfer of land to bring more young people into the agricultural industry.

Senator Thomas Byrne raised the provision of wheelchairs by the Health Service Executive. My understanding is that when a person is fitted for a wheelchair, it can take up to 11 months before such is delivered by the HSE. That is crazy. A person expects to receive a wheelchair within a reasonable timeframe once his or her needs are identified. Having to wait 11 months is not in any way reasonable. I certainly will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister.

On Senator's Byrne's query regarding the Companies Bill 2012, Report Stage of that important Bill will be taken in the coming weeks.

Senator Martin Conway outlined the success of the Wild Atlantic Way initiative and the huge increase in visitor numbers to the locations it incorporates. He also called for a war on litter and emphasised the need for greater enforcement and the introduction of new laws, if necessary, to tackle litter problems.

Senator Paschal Mooney called for more logistical assistance from Ireland to combat the Ebola virus and complimented the United States President, Mr. Obama, on his country's efforts in that regard. The Senator referred to the need for a better international response and mentioned other countries such as China and Russia in this regard. I am sure GOAL will be in contact with the Minister to outline its concerns on this issue. I am sure, likewise, that the Government will be forthcoming in its efforts in that regard.

Senator Mary Moran referred to newly qualified and unemployed teachers and the necessity of their being allocated any substitute work. This is an issue the Senator has raised on previous occasions and we would all agree that such teachers should be prioritised. I also note her comments regarding a book on child abuse. She referred, in addition, to the need for more coverage of minority sports. Senator Moran has referred in the past to the Special Olympics and the Community Games for people with special needs and disabilities. I agree there should be better coverage of these sports.

Senator Feargal Quinn spoke about the need to reduce paper usage by Government agencies and Departments. As he noted, the Department of Finance is taking action in that regard in respect of cheques. The idea of allocating an e-mail address to every person resident in the State is a very good one.

Senator Paul Bradford asked that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the House for a debate on the situation in Northern Ireland. I will try to facilitate that debate. The Senator referred to the importance of democratic debate, as we have seen in action in Scotland. We all anxiously await the result of the referendum there.