Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

To respond specifically to Senator Mooney's question, of course I will appeal to the unions and the Minister to work together. My intention in responding was to avoid repeating myself and ensure I covered all the different points raised by Members.
Senator Mooney also referred to the recent judgment of the European Court of Justice in favour of the German Government. It does seem like a decision that will have significant implications and I agree with the Senator that the Minister for Social Protection will need to review it. I am sure officials in her Department are doing exactly that as we speak. I am confident it will have positive implications in the context of the very sensationalist debate on welfare tourism that is taking place in Britain. A great deal of concern in this regard has been whipped up by a number of media outlets there. Like Senator Mooney, I am not sure how large a problem it actually is. Having said that, the decision that was made seems sensible and may help to calm fears, particularly in Britain.
Senator Mooney also welcomed the appointment of Ms Emma Madigan as the new Irish ambassador to the Vatican. We all wish her well in her new post. There have been huge changes since we last had an ambassador resident in the Vatican, not least the election of a new Pope.
Senator Mooney concluded by wishing the national football team well in its game against Scotland tomorrow night and offered similar good wishes to the rugby team in advance of its match on Sunday. We all join Senator Mooney in congratulating Stephanie Roche of the national women's football team, who has had one of her goals nominated as goal of the year by FIFA.
Senator Paul Coghlan joined Senator Mooney in welcoming the appointment of Ms Emma Madigan as ambassador to the Vatican. He went on to raise what was the second main theme of today's Order of Business, namely, the Central Bank's proposals on regulations for mortgage lending. Huge concern has been expressed in this House in recent weeks about the proposal that mortgage applicants will require a 20% deposit. Last week, we heard suggestions at a banking conference that there may be some movement on that. For now, these are just proposals. I certainly will ask the Leader to organise a debate on this issue in the light of Members' concerns that the rules are too rigid. At the same time, several colleagues noted the need to avoid another housing bubble. There must be a balance between excessive rigidity and an absence of any regulation of the level of deposit required in order to secure a mortgage.
Senator Coghlan also referred to the study that was widely reported today which shows that the proximity of a school can lead to house price rises. This is not news to any parents seeking to purchase a home, but it is useful to have the anecdotal evidence confirmed in the daft.iereport.
Senator Sean Barrett supported Senator Coghlan's call for a debate on the Central Bank's proposed rules for mortgage lending. As I said, I will ask the Leader to facilitate that debate. To reiterate, a final decision has not yet made by the Central Bank. I understand that will be done in the new year. As such, it would make sense to seek a debate before Christmas, while the matter is still under discussion.
Senator Barrett also raised an issue of which I was not aware, namely, that Kerry County Council is seeking to declare itself an island. We may hear from our Kerry colleagues on that issue.

We have different views.

Senator Michael Comiskey welcomed the launch of the 2016 commemoration programme at the GPO last night. By all accounts, it was an historic event. Other speakers referred to the speech of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, while the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Riordáin, also spoke about the nature of the commemorations. He stated they must be inclusive and recognise the need for the reconciliation of different traditions on the island. In particular, he spoke about the centrality of culture and the need to ensure we had a good many cultural commemoration events.

Senator Michael Comiskey also welcomed the resolution at the beef talks last night. All colleagues will welcome the breakthrough. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, secured the agreement of all stakeholders to a comprehensive list of key actions to address the concerns expressed by beef farmers in recent months. He said he was satisfied that it represented the best possible outcome. Like many colleagues, I have met Mr. Eddie Downey of the IFA and I am well aware of the concerns of beef farmers and the serious differential in prices between Britain and Ireland. The resolution is welcome. We all hope the beef forum will provide a useful method for reconciling future issues that arise.

Senator Terry Leyden referred to the historic landing by a space mission on a comet for the first time. Some reports this morning suggested there might have been difficulties in the bedding down of the craft and we all hope these will be resolved. The Senator congratulated Laurence O'Rourke from County Westmeath, the Irish scientist involved in this great achievement. We join the Senator in commending his involvement.

Senator Martin Conway welcomed the launch of the commemoration programme and referred to the teaching of history at leaving certificate and secondary cycle level. I will certainly check it out. While I know that it has been raised in the House previously, I do not think the change is as significant as has been suggested.

Senator Marc MacSharry referred to the treatment of patients with diabetes in Sligo and lack of access, which may well be an issue that could be raised as a matter on the Adjournment, if he has not already done so.

The Senator also proposed an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, come to the House to speak about local authorities. I can ask for a debate on the issue with the Minister as a number of other colleagues have raised the issue of local authority funding as a concern. I have made an inquiry and I am told that the Minister is in Northern Ireland today and cannot attend the Seanad.

Senator Lorraine Higgins referred to the practice of Loan Start and the concerns of a constituent. The Senator has already taken up the matter with the CEO of the Bank of Scotland and the joint committee dealing with finance issues, which is an appropriate place in which to raise the matter. The CEOs of Ulster Bank and AIB are before the joint committee today and I can also seek a debate on financial regulation. As we are already asking the Minister for Finance to attend to discuss more general matters, we might include the issue raised by the Senator.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell referred to junior cycle reforms and Central Bank regulations. I have responded on these matters.

Senator Colm Burke spoke about local authority funding. As I said, I will seek a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, on the issue.

The Senator also referred to the Central Bank rules on mortgages. He raised the issue of house purchases from local authorities, which is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, and could be included in a debate with him.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh welcomed the report of the Oireachtas committee on voting rights for the Diaspora, as do I. It comes on foot of the recommendation by a significant majority of the Constitutional Convention to extend voting rights in presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the jurisdiction. I support that recommendation fully and was involved in the debate. I hope we will see it move along in the lifetime of the Government.

Senator Rónán Mullen raised the mortgage issue and called for a debate on the Central Bank's proposals. I support the idea of having a debate.

The Senator sent good wishes to the new ambassador to the Vatican and commended the Office of Emergency Planning for the new document entitled, Winter Ready. Given the weather we are having today, the document is particularly pertinent. I agree with the Senator that it is an excellent document and very timely.

I am glad to hear that Senator Mary White is reinvigorated and that she was involved in the commemorations committee. I note her reference to the official launch of the programme at the GPO last night. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, will attend the House within the hour for a full debate on commemorations planning which I am very glad we are having this week. It is not only the week in which the programme has been launched, but it is also the week of Remembrance Day. I hope we will have a productive debate.

Senator Feargal Quinn raised the issue of threats to post offices. We had a debate at the joint committee on the future of the post office network and in the House and it is a source of concern for many colleagues. We can ask for a further debate on tit. As the Senator says, the real threat is presented by people simply not sending as many letters or using the postal service as much as they did because of electronic mail. Christmas and the sending of Christmas cards offers a boost to post offices, but there is no doubt that there is an ongoing threat. I am happy to seek to have the matter debated again. The Senator is right to say other work must be sought and the diversification of functions pursued. I understand this is ongoing in the post office network.

The Senator also referred to the debate last night on Seanad reform. I could not be here as I was representing the justice committee at a conference on the abolition of prostitution and changes to prostitution law. The Senator has given me the opportunity to note that conference. While I am sorry I missed the debate, I was doing important work elsewhere. I was seeking to further the justice committee's recommendation of a change in the law to criminalise the purchase of sex in line with the position in Sweden, Norway, Iceland and, I hope, Canada and France.

I am glad to hear a working group on Seanad reform has been established and note Senator John Crown's point that it should not include anyone who favoured abolition. Anyone in it will have to be constructive. That is the point. The task is to come up with effective and meaningful Seanad reforms, whatever the different personal positions are in the group. I have not seen the full list of members, but it is important that they be constructive and seek to engage with the others in the group.

Senator John Crown raised the very important issue of the need for the development of an adult cancer genetic service. He referred to the particular issues arising from genetic causes of cancer. The Houses have already engaged in public consultation on lifestyle factors in the incidence of cancer, which are well known. I take the Senator's point on the need to develop a better service in genetic testing for cancer. In Trinity College Dublin we have an excellent genetics department led by Professor David McConnell, of which colleagues will be well aware. Certainly, it is of real concern if waiting lists are particularly long for genetic testing in the hospital system. I will certainly raise the matter with the Leader and, perhaps, ask him to write to the Minister for Health about it. I know that the Senator will pursue the matter also.

Senator Rónán Mullen also referred to the junior cycle programme, an issue on which I have responded fully. I have huge respect for teachers and note that they can mark students objectively. We must be careful not to sound as if we do not think they can do this.