Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Mullins also welcomed the decrease in unemployment as set out in the live register statistics. It is genuinely a good news story that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 11.1%, down from a crisis peak of 15.1% in 2012. It is hugely significant that there has been a 9% year-on-year decrease in unemployment, with long-term unemployment having decreased by 5.5% year on year. I know everyone in the House will welcome this. It is hoped this pattern of decreases will continue into the future. As I said, this issue was also fairly noted by Senator Mooney.

Senator Mullins asked that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, be invited to the House for a debate on jobs and job creation. Previous debates on this issue in the House have proved very useful. I will ask the Leader to facilitate such a debate.

Senator Mullins also referred to the tragic deaths in recent times on farms. We were all heartbroken to hear about the two little girls involved in the accident on a farm in Cork. The Senator's suggestion that primary schools educate children about farm and road safety is a good idea. It might be worthwhile for the Senator to raise that matter with the Health and Safety Authority.

I have responded to some of the questions raised by Senator Mooney in his contribution. I note the Senator also welcomed the new model launched by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, this week, which marks an historic change in the system of appointments to boards. We should all applaud the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and Government in this regard.

Senator Mooney also referred to the appointment of the new US ambassador to Ireland. Unlike here, ambassadors in the US are political appointees rather than civil servants. We do not have the same system as the US in terms of the election of judges and prosecutors. There are many ways in which our system bears much better scrutiny.

Senator Hayden also spoke about and called for a debate on the third level institution rankings. As I said, it would be good to have the Minister, Deputy O'Sullivan, come to the House for such a debate and, in particular, the report on third level funding, publication of which we would all welcome.

Senator Quinn also spoke about the university rankings and the importance in the context of foreign direct investment of high standards in our universities. He also referred to Tom Boland's important statement that rankings are not the only measurement and that there are other criteria used, some of which may be flawed.

Senator Quinn also referred to the issues of cigarette smuggling and diesel laundering in north Louth and south Armagh and spoke of the tragic death of Garda Adrian Donohoe as being a catalyst for change. I agree with him on that. Next Tuesday the Minister for Justice and Equality will be in the House for the Second Stage debate on the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014, which might present an appropriate opportunity for the Senator to raise his concerns relating to the particular area of the country mentioned. It should be possible to introduce measures that might be of assistance, although I suspect what is needed is policing strategies and measures rather than legislative ones. It is an important issue which was brought home in the context of the tributes paid yesterday in this House to the late former Senator Edward Haughey who as a major employer brought so much prosperity to the south Armagh area. That is perhaps a better way of dealing with these issues than the vehicle of terrorist legislation.

Senator Brennan spoke about the appointments to the RTE Authority and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which again are examples of good practice in terms of the nominees having been required to engage in a process of hearings-----