Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement made today by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that a forum will be established by the summer that will look at tax, pay and spending priorities. It will involve stakeholders and representatives of unions, employers and so on. This is a welcome development. It is part of a process being embarked upon by the Government, following the spring statement that will be announced, to enable greater transparency and greater consultation in the pre-budget process. It is something we have often commented on in this House. Both sides of the House have commented on the need for greater transparency and greater inputs from different stakeholders at the pre-budget stage of the process. I welcome the initiative. I ask the Leader if we might have a debate in this House, once the forum has been established, on the work of the forum over the summer months, and June and July would be an appropriate time.

I welcome the announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, at the Labour Party conference at the weekend in Killarney. I refer to the Government's proposal to introduce two weeks' paid paternity leave. It is welcome and is something for which many of us have campaigned for some time. It is not just my party that has campaigned for it but also Senators from across the House, in particular Senator Mary White, who has called for the provision. It will mark a welcome recognition of the rights of fathers in the workplace. The idea is that this leave will only be capable of being availed of by fathers on the birth of their child. It is welcome, as is the announcement in respect of the extension of the ECCE scheme.

I welcome the announcement by Dublin City Council that it has approved the redevelopment of the fruit and vegetable market at Smithfield. It will resource a major redevelopment of this market which is a really beautiful structure located in the north inner city. The regeneration of that market could see a real regeneration of the area. The initiative is welcome. I welcome the announcement today by the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, of an additional €500,000 plus for 187 local festivals and events throughout Ireland as part of a tourism initiative. This follows the announcement of a much greater sum of money, over €2 million, for 27 large national festivals throughout Ireland this year. I note that the local festivals are important in different areas in bringing in tourism and visitors. Bloomsday, which Senator Norris has been involved in for so many years, the hard working class heroes event in Dublin city centre and the Dalkey book festival are some of the events that will be funded by this. We all know the benefit that these festivals bring in terms of cultural and artistic benefits as well as the benefit in terms of tourism and extra revenue. I welcome that and I look forward to attending many of those festivals myself.