Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O'Brien also referred to a drug for multiple sclerosis sufferers. Senators Keane and Crown spoke about the availability of a drug for hepatitis C sufferers. As I noted, the Minister will come to the House on 4 November and I am sure the Members concerned will make their points to him. I am sure they will also raise these issues with him in the meantime.

Senator Bacik spoke about violence against women, the Safe Ireland project and the importance of a two-state solution in the Middle East. She also called for an update on the reports on penal reform. The Minister for Justice and Equality will come to the House on 5 November for a comprehensive debate on criminal justice and to update us on various penal reform reports.

Senator Barrett spoke about the attack on democratic institutions in Canada. I am sure all of us would like to express our solidarity with our democratic colleagues in Canada after the dreadful attack yesterday.

Senators O'Neill and Mullins called for a debate on the beef industry and asked that factories treat farmers more fairly than is currently the case. I hope that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will come to the House in the next number of weeks to discuss the beef industry.

Senator Leyden spoke about the lack of coverage of the Seanad in yesterday's "Oireachtas Report". It is not the first time that "Oireachtas Report" failed to cover Seanad business and there is a need for a fair share of coverage. We have written letters about that previously and we can certainly take it up again.

We will certainly seek to pursue that matter again.

Senator Landy referred to anti-social behaviour and the mindless vandalism which occurred in his county. As already stated, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, will be coming before the House on 5 November to discuss criminal justice matters and penal reform. The Senator could possibly raise with her the issues to which he refers during that debate.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien referred to the children's hospital. She can raise that matter with the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, when he comes before the House, and Senator Crown can do likewise in respect of the matter he mentioned, namely, the availability of drugs for those who are suffering with hepatitis C.

Senator Naughten referred to the kidnapping of 200 children in Nigeria and outlined her hope that there will be a positive outcome to the negotiations currently taking place between the Government of that country and Boko Haram.

I have already addressed the matter Senator Cullinane raised in the context of Sinn Féin and people providing information to the police. In the context of the Waterford and Carlow institutes of technology, I was not aware of the fact mentioned by the Senator yesterday that the negotiations process had stalled. As Senator Cullinane correctly stated, it is the intention of the Government that there will be a technological university in the south east. There is a commitment in the programme for Government in this regard. I understand the Minister summoned the CEO and the chairman of Waterford Institute of Technology to attend a meeting on the matter in the Department this morning. It is to be hoped that the negotiations will be progressed as a result of the discussions that will take place at that meeting.

Senator Mullins referred to the beef sector. He also requested a debate on mental health with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I have arranged for the Minister of State to come before the House on 11 November in order that we might engage in such a debate. Senator Gilroy and others have also been seeking a debate on this subject for a number of weeks.

Senators Mooney and O'Sullivan sought a debate on the 1916 commemorations and on the question of recognition for Irish people who fought in the Great War. I have asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to come before the House for a debate on these matters on 13 November.

Senator Keane raised the issue of justice for Maíria Cahill - which I have already dealt with - and the availability of drugs for hepatitis C sufferers.

Senator Norris referred to the motion relating to the appointment of the members of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and inquired as to why it is to be taken without debate. I understand that a 40-minute debate on the motion took place at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and that seven members of said committee contributed to that debate. There is no point in duplicating the debate on the matter. I understand the matter was very well dealt with by the committee in question and that a very comprehensive debate took place.