Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is 3.50 p.m. Senators MacSharry, O'Keeffe, Comiskey and Henry, who all happen to be from Sligo, raised questions on Sligo County Council. We are all aware that it has a massive debt at this point in time. Of course, it is the elected members themselves who have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting an annual budget and authorising borrowing. They are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. That said, I am sure the problems will be surmounted and that wise counsel among all parties will prevail. I understand the CEO is meeting with the Minister today and I hope that wise counsel will be seen among all parties and a resolution occurs. However, it must be pointed out that it is a reserved function of the members themselves to deal with the budgetary process. That is something forgotten at times by members.

Senators O'Keeffe, Leyden, Conway, Kelly, Michael D'Arcy, Ó Clochartaigh, Walsh, Mullins and others referred to the report of the Garda Inspectorate. The report was very comprehensive and all Members need time to digest its contents. I will certainly endeavour to have a debate on the report within a matter of weeks as it deserves the counsel of the House. I will try to have the Minister attend to discuss the matter at that point.

Senator Barrett referred to the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and I am sure he will raise the point he raises on the Order of Business with the Minister during the debate. It was a very valid point.

Senator Comiskey and others referred to the beef forum and wished it success today. The matter was also raised yesterday by a number of Members. Senator Darragh O'Brien and Senator Colm Burke also raised a matter which was raised yesterday by Senator Thomas Byrne and others in relation to the fair deal scheme, on which we will try to arrange a debate.

Senator Darragh O'Brien also mentioned approximately 30 gardaí in Swords getting access for the Minister to attend an event. The protection of the institutions of the State and the elected representatives of the people is of paramount importance and guarded properly by An Garda Síochána. It is a matter for the Garda to allocate resources for such an event, but the protection of a Government Minister or any Member of the Houses elected by the people is always a matter for the Garda and something it addresses well. Peaceful protest is a right but we have seen - and I do not allude to the situation in Swords - peaceful protests infiltrated by small groups of dissident republicans and others who have attacked gardaí in many instances. This cannot be tolerated by anyone. We should be seen to protect and defend our gardaí in instances like this and I will do so at all times.

Senator Quinn referred to pensions in the private sector. We will have the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill in here and the Minister will attend on 2, 4 and 9 December to deal with it. There have been other requests for the Minister to attend on other matters also this morning and we will try to get her to attend on additional dates to discuss some of the things that have been mentioned. Members will realise that the Minister will be here for three days and we will try to get her to fit matters into her very busy diary as both Tánaiste and Minister. I must disagree with Senator Quinn in that the Government recognises fully the benefit of the self-employed and has adopted many measures in the current and previous budgets to help and assist them.