Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Darragh O'Brien and other Senators mentioned the Central Bank's rule of having a 20% mortgage deposit. The Central Bank Bill will come before the House and I know it will deal with a specific matter on Thursday. Personally, I feel a 20% mortgage deposit is a little unrealistic, particularly for young people who are trying to get on the first rung of the housing ladder. Obviously other Members of the House will disagree with my viewpoint. I hope sense will prevail and that a progression towards 20%, over a number of years, will be contemplated by the Central Bank. I am sure this is not the last time we will have words about it and I am sure we can debate the matter. I am sure submissions have been made by the public and groups but we must await what the Central Bank will say on the matter.

I note the point made by Senator Darragh O'Brien on breast prosthesis and a request that funding is standardised throughout the length and breadth of the country. I agree with him on the matter and the subject can be raised with the Minister when he comes into the House after the Order of Business.

Senators Bacik, Leyden, Norris, Mullins and other Senators mentioned the Paris killings which were reprehensible acts. Senator Bacik called for a debate on blasphemy and other Senators, like Senator Norris and Mullins, pointed out that one human life is as valuable as another. Such points will be taken into consideration. I am sure we will have a debate on the whole area of blasphemy in the not too distant future.

Senator Bacik called for us to proceed with the Employment Protection (No. 2) Bill. I shall find out the current status of the Bill and whether the Department is ready to take Committee Stage of the Bill.

Senator Zappone mentioned the right-left divide and the need for clarity in political policies. She also called for a debate on quantitative easing. Senator Barrett mentioned that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, commented on the matter at yesterday's conference.

Senator D'Arcy mentioned Irish Water, and Senator Healy Eames raised the same point. I will address the points of Senator Healy Eames in my final comments.

Senators D'Arcy, Coghlan, Wilson, Brennan and Mullins referred to the toxic waste and sewage being dumped into rivers in the Republic, especially in north Louth, as a result of diesel laundering. Those engaging in these types of practice are former subversives and gangsters. The practice is affecting not only the economy but also the health and safety of people in north Louth and the other side of the Border. I agree that this matter will have to be dealt with firmly. The Garda and customs authorities on this side of the Border take the matter very seriously. I hope this is also the case in the North. There is a doubt about whether the PSNI and people on the other side of the Border are dealing with the matter properly, but I can assure the Senators that the matter will be dealt with. I will certainly raise it with the Taoiseach with a view to having it raised with the British Prime Minister. It is very serious and I know it will be discussed. There is an item on the agenda of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting in February dealing specifically with this matter. Senator Coghlan is chairman of the relevant sub-committee. I assure the House that the matter will be raised very firmly at the meeting. From both a health and safety and an economic perspective, the practice in which the gangsters are now involved is reprehensible. The sooner they are brought to justice, the better for everybody in the State and those on the other side of the Border.

Senator Marc MacSharry referred to the nursing home sector and the need for major capital investment in some nursing homes so they will be safe and fit for purpose. I am sure that matter will be raised with the Minister for Health in the debate on the health service plan.

Senator Moran referred to the Irish design expo in the RDS, showcasing what is best in Irish design. We compliment all those involved in it. I note the Senator's points on the WALK PEER programme, which may be raised as a Commencement matter in the future.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell had a number of questions on progress regarding the lottery regulator. I will certainly raise this with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

On the public water forum, the Minister will be in the House tomorrow discussing water meters as part of the Private Members' motion tabled by Fianna Fáil. Perhaps Senators David Cullinane and Craughwell could wait until then to discuss their concerns. I ask them to consider withdrawing their amendment to the Order of Business, as I am sure the matter they wish to discuss can be discussed as part of the Private Members' motion tomorrow evening.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell also asked about property tax and how much of it will be going to Irish Water this year. I will certainly ascertain the position with the Minister.

Senator Coghlan complimented Mr. Duffy on the major transformation that is taking place in AIB and wished him well for the future.

Senator Barrett raised a number of items. I have responded to what he said about the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Noonan, on the question of quantitative easing at a conference yesterday. The Senator also called for a debate on upward-only rent reviews and costs in that regard. He also welcomed the appointment of the new Canadian ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Kevin Vickers.
Senator Gilroy lauded the work of nurses and asked the Minister to become more involved in the dispute between the board and the nurses in relation to registration fees. I am sure he could raise that matter with the Minister when we have a debate on health issues after the Order of Business.
Senator Cullinane called for a debate on housing and rent caps. I understand the Labour Party intends to propose a Private Members' motion on that whole area on 11 February. The Minister will be present to discuss that matter on 11 February.
Senator Kelly spoke about wind energy and raised the question of people not complying with planning permission. I suggest to him that the local authority certainly has and should have a role to play if people are not complying with planning permission. It would be a serious matter if local authorities did not use their powers to deal with people who do not comply with planning permission.
Senator Leyden spoke about the Paris killings and suggested that the actions of Air France in circulating Charlie Hebdowere very provocative.
Senator Craughwell raised the whole question of health and safety in so far as it pertains to water meters. He also suggested that he is in favour of the retention of the proposed 20% mortgage deposit requirement.
I think I have dealt with the matter of fuel laundering, which was raised by Senator Wilson.
Senator Mullins called for the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, to report on the Foreign Affairs Council meeting that was held in Brussels this week.
Senator Walsh asked for a debate on home ownership. As I have said, the Labour Party has tabled a Private Members' motion that it intends to move for debate on 11 February next. We can have a debate on that matter. The Senator also called for a debate on legal costs with specific reference to the cost of tribunals. When Senator Conway also raised this issue, he advised us that some economists are giving advice to the banking inquiry free of charge and called for legal practitioners to adopt a similar course of action. I think we would probably be waiting a long time. One never knows. It might happen.
Senator Colm Burke praised the work of everybody involved in accident and emergency services. He said that an average of over 8,000 people attend accident and emergency departments each week. I am sure other matters in that regard will be raised during the debate that will take place after the Order of Business.
Senator Healy Eames rightly pointed out that the EPA has published its annual drinking water report for 2013. The report points out that while the public drinking water supply is of a high quality, some 121 of this country's 978 water supply plants are on the EPA remedial action list. The 121 plants in question affect almost 940,000 people. There is no question that 121 is a large number. There is a need for improvements to disinfection systems and better management of water treatment. Further water improvements are required due to the introduction of a more stringent requirement relating to lead.

There is a need for Irish Water to remove and prevent boil water notices, implement a national lead strategy, optimise a treatment process to reduce all contaminants in water and prioritises RAL schemes. The findings reinforce the Government's policy to create a single national utility to bring new levels of co-ordination, expertise and investment to managing Ireland's drinking water supplies. The findings relate to 2013, the last year for which the local authorities were responsible for water services. Irish Water has assumed responsibility for those services from 1 January 2014.