Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----all the information he requires and I hope he is satisfied in that regard.

Senator Keane called for a debate on child care and asked that any such debate be evidence-based, which I am sure will be the case. Hopefully we will have that debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Reilly, next week.

Senator Healy Eames asked for a debate on the elimination of milk quotas. We had a debate on milk quotas and milk prices on 10 December last so I do not propose to have a further debate on the issue. It was well flagged that milk quotas would be eliminated in 2015 so I cannot understand why anyone would have bought milk quota in the last year or two and paid a high price for same. Senator Brennan referred to Central Statistics Office figures on overseas visitors. The figures make for wonderful news. He commented on the fact that there has been a good start to this year already. As he said as Gaeilge, tús maith, leath na hoibre. Certainly the efforts the Government has made in respect of the 9% VAT rate and eliminating the tax on flights has helped tourism and associated businesses, including hotels and so on.

Senator O'Brien raised the matter of the Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill and the need for the increase in usage of defibrillators. As has been pointed out, the Bill went through this House but I will inquire again on the position. I gather HIQA carried out costings on the provision of defibrillators in all the areas that Senator Quinn set out. Anyway, I believe there should be an increase in the usage of defibrillators in many areas of the country.

Senator Conway rightly pointed out the plight of self-employed people, who can get no social welfare payments when their businesses go to the wall.

When we changed the ordering of business I said I would welcome comments from any Member on the changes. The comments on the Commencement debate are among the first I have heard on the matter. We are doing it for a trial period. I am willing to change it in any way that suits the vast majority of Members and staff. At the moment it is working quite well. Perhaps we will look at closing the gap between the Commencement debate and the Order of Business. We deal with the Order of Business at noon but perhaps we could bring that back to 11.30 a.m. and close the gap. That would probably be a good idea but we will leave it until this term is over and then make any changes that are necessary. I am certainly open to suggestions from any Member.

Senator Sheahan called for a debate on the consistency of sentencing and the qualification of people who commit offences on a regular basis for free legal aid. He also raised the length of time involved in dealing with crimes. We have raised the question of law and order and sentencing with the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. She has a good deal of legislation coming to the House in the coming month or two and she has guaranteed that she will come in for a wide-ranging debate on law and order. Sentencing policy will form a strong part of that debate. I imagine Senator Sheahan will get the opportunity to raise the matter with the Minister at that point.

I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business.