Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the positive economic figures that have been published in recent weeks. In particular I welcome the comments of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, make this morning before the Cabinet meeting to the effect that this is the best pre-budget position the country has been in for six years. For the first time in a long time we are seeing positive indicators going into a budget. I hope this means the health, education and social welfare budgets will be protected and that we will not see cuts in those services.

The Leader will respond to Senator O'Brien's amendment call, but I share his concern, as does everyone in the House. Senator O'Brien has fairly referred to the long delays and the Inclusion Ireland report about the lack of access to speech and language therapists. It is appalling. It is not new in the sense that we have seen such delays in the system. We have seen a lack of recruitment as well. One key issue is simply a shortage of skilled personnel who are able to carry out the assessments and provide the appointments. We need to see urgent action taken on this matter. I absolutely agree with Senator O'Brien on this - I imagine everyone in the House would agree on it. I would like to see us having an early debate on the matter, even if it cannot be facilitated today.

On a lighter note, I wish all those involved in the ploughing championships this week well. It is expected that 200,000 people will visit the championships It is an important showcase for Irish agriculture, agribusiness, the food business and artisan food producers as well. It is a positive event this week.

Will the Leader consider arranging an early debate on climate change following the meeting that has been convened by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in New York today? It is a meeting of world leaders to look at trying to break through the obstacles preventing the taking of serious action on climate change. It is a welcome initiative. He has broken out of the normal structures of UN meetings on climate change to call this one-off meeting and seek commitments from leaders of all countries on how they will reduce their emissions and stick to targets. We need to keep climate change at the top of our political priorities and I am pleased to see that the Government has committed to introducing the legislation. I hope we will see it become law in 2015. It has long been promised. I know there is support from all sides of the House for climate change legislation but the last Government could not get it through. It is really important that we get it through in the term of this Government.