Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is nice not to be ignored. Senator Wilson also raised the plight of Defence Forces personnel. I am sure all of us, on reading some of the reports from the Defence Forces representatives organisation, would share his concern. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has said that he has not received representations on that matter. He will be in the House next Wednesday at which time these matters can be raised with him.

Senator Landy raised the issue of the national dementia strategy, in respect of which issue on Tuesday last I asked the Leader for a debate and commended the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland on its work in this area. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, will be requested to come to the House to update us on that strategy.

Senator Thomas Byrne also raised the issue of the McNulty affair. I have responded on that issue. As I said at the time the Minister of State, Deputy Heather Humphreys was in the House, we should have a general debate with her on the different issues to do with the arts. We have considerable expertise in this area in the Seanad, in particular, Senator Mac Conghail. It would be worthwhile having such a debate.

Senator Naughton spoke about the Irish Hotels Federation quarterly barometer survey which again was a good news story. The Senator noted that there had been a 10% increase in tourism figures last year and pointed to the success of the 9% VAT rate in this area. I commend the Senator on raising this important issue less than two weeks out from the budget. Continuation of the reduced VAT rate is one of the key issues we hope to see addressed in the budget. I am sure everybody in the House would agree.

Senator Michael D'Arcy also spoke about the good news story of the decrease in the unemployment figures and suggested we have a debate on ideas for the budget and job creation, which debate would be well worth having, even after the budget.

We should have that debate on job creation. I note really creative ideas, for instance, around apprenticeships. There was good news yesterday, when Waterford Crystal has for the first time in years taken on new apprentices in the high-skilled glass-blowing sector. That is really positive news for Waterford and the south east to see that recommencing. We might have a useful debate on that with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton. We will also have statements on the budget on 14 October and Deputy Bruton has promised to come into this House shortly after Halloween to a debate, as we might focus on job creation with him.

Senator Comiskey raised farm safety and I have already spoken on that.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan, on the McNulty affair, pointed out the Taoiseach had recommended to his members not to vote for Mr. McNulty to respect his wishes. The Senator also spoke on the board of the paediatric hospital and the issue of planning for a maternity unit at the same time as planning permission is submitted for the children's hospital. It is an excellent idea to ask the Minister that. It might be done as a matter on the Adjournment. I was personally involved with the submission from the Coombe hospital, which looked to have the sight of the children's hospital co-located with the Coombe. There is a plan to develop the Coombe hospital, which is a maternity hospital local to the St. James's site that was ultimately chosen. It is possible to open up a swift corridor between the two sites and that might be something the Senator could pursue directly with the Minister.

Senator Gilroy pointed out that section 836 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 was an obscure anomaly which appeared to allow Ministers to be exempt from certain charges. I would agree with Senator Gilroy and commend the Minister, Deputy Noonan, and the Government for closing this loophole swiftly when it became apparent. Sinn Féin did attempt to make some political mileage out of it but I would agree with Senator Gilroy that the term sickening is far more appropriate to use about that party's own actions. That really came home to us all when we saw Brendan Megraw's body discovered finally 36 years after his disappearance, and after his mother had died. Hearing his family speak about the heartbreak they have been through in the past 36 years brought home to all us what sickening really means.