Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Byrne proposed an amendment to the Order of Business similar to the one proposed yesterday. As I mentioned yesterday, there is an ongoing Garda investigation of this matter. I appreciate that it is a very serious matter and I have asked the Minister if she will be in a position to come to the House even for a short time next week. That request is with the Minister. She has given an undertaking that when the sizeable amount of legislation she has on hand and ready to be introduced to the House is completed, she will be willing to have a comprehensive debate not only on this issue but also on law and order, a debate many Senators have requested. Unfortunately, I cannot accept the proposed amendment to the Order of Business tabled by the Senator.

With regard to the Slane bypass, Senator Byrne said that an appointment has been broken. I am sure a simple telephone call to the Minister's office would indicate why he cannot attend this meeting and why he did not attend another meeting. As the Senator is aware, the Minister is very busy. He is required to be in Parliament to address matters such as Aer Lingus and many other transport issues. I do not suggest that the Slane bypass is not as important as those, as it certainly is to the people concerned, but I am sure the Minister will re-arrange that meeting in early course.

Senator Bacik asked about the resumed Committee Stage of the Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill. I do not have good news in that regard. There is nothing planned at present. It will be after the Easter recess before I will have news on it. The Senator also welcomed the proposals relating to gender inequality at third level and the committee that has been established. That is welcome. I note her points regarding plain packaging of tobacco, which was raised by a number of Members yesterday, supporting the Government's stance on the issue.

Senator Quinn spoke about absenteeism being a major problem, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises, and referred to the measures announced in the UK yesterday. We are dealing with Committee Stage of the Workplace Relations Bill today and the matter could be raised under that Bill. I am sure Senator Quinn will get an opportunity to raise those points with the Minister directly.

The issue of calorie counts on menus were referred to.It has been highlighted that some restaurateurs have difficulties but food chains do not. Senator Keane mentioned the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's website menucal.iewill easily calculate the calorie count. I appreciate there will be difficulties for some restaurateurs adhering to proposed calorie counts on menus. I hope sense will prevail and there will not be any heavy-handedness when it comes to implementing the scheme.

Senators Keane, O'Donovan and others spoke about drugs and gangland crime, which have been debated for some time by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. A report will come from the committee and when it is complete we undertake that it will be debated in the House. This may be an opportunity for the Minister to come to the House to discuss drugs, gangland crime and law and order.

Senator Leyden called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to debate the Middle East. He has come to the House twice already this year to discuss the Middle East and Ukraine. The Senator also called for the Minister to discuss the situation in Azerbaijan. I would like the Minister to come to the House to discuss Northern Ireland also, and I have requested that he do so, even though he has come to the House on a number of occasions to discuss the Middle East, Ukraine and other areas of conflict.

Senator Hayden spoke about local area partnerships bidding for projects. I appreciate what she stated in this regard, but there is a need to avoid duplication. I understand what she stated with regard to funding being put in place in April for projects which are already up and running and the difficulties which may accrue as a result of this. I hope this can be teased out with the Minister.

Senator Barrett complimented the Minister of State, Deputy Nash, on his appointments to the low pay commission. Those involved are eminent people. I note his comments on Aer Lingus, which is being debated by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. I assure him there are no done deals with anybody. The Minister will consider everything which will come before him, and a decision will be made by the Government at that point in time and not beforehand. I assure the Senator there are no done deals, and nothing has been entered into.

Senator Burke welcomed the establishment of the national rare diseases office and complimented the Ministers involved. He also outlined the Government's position on the construction of the new Cork Prison, which is long overdue.

Senator Cullinane spoke about JobBridge and new proposals from Sinn Féin, much of which is a rehash of the policy of the Minister of State, Deputy English. There are some good points in them and I appreciate this. It is not like the Sinn Féin budget proposals, which can be found in the fiction area in any good bookshop. We welcome Sinn Féin's proposals in this regard, even though many of them are a rehash of what the Government already has in place.

Senator Kelly spoke about turf cutting and raised bogs. We have had debates on this and perhaps the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, will come to the House. I do not believe she has come to the House to discuss this issue.

I note the points made by Senator O'Donovan on Cork Airport and on law and order, which I believe I have addressed. We already have many recruits in Templemore, which we reopened, and more recruits are to come. There will be a constant flow of gardaí coming on stream.

Senator Mullins spoke about justice and law and order issues and investigating people with the trappings of wealth who seemingly have no evident means of income. This is something the Garda and the Criminal Assets Bureau are constantly examining. I appreciate his comments on the link-up with the Department of Social Protection in this regard.

Senator Mullen spoke about the cost of car insurance for people returning from abroad. It is strange that evidence of no claims bonuses of people who had been driving abroad is not taken into consideration when they return. It is a matter which should be addressed. It is wonderful to be speaking about people coming back and so many people are coming back to set up their own business in the country. I appreciate what the Senator stated and I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister.

Senator Brennan spoke about burglaries in his area and I note his point in this regard.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about Seachtain na Gaeilge. We will have the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, here on 11 March to discuss the Irish language strategy, a point which Senator Ó Murchú also raised. The Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, has been invited to the House to discuss issues including the diaspora strategy and policy. I hope to secure a debate before St. Patrick's Day with him in this regard.

Senator Michael D'Arcy spoke about the IDA and the disposing of assets over a number of years and local authorities not having land for development. I suggest this could be the subject of a Commencement debate in which Senator D'Arcy can get the answers to the questions he has raised in this regard.