Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Members were very unruly throughout the Order of Business today. It does nothing for the decorum and dignity of the House to have such occurrences. People should reconsider, when they come into the House, whether they do things properly. It would be better if they did not come in if they are going to involve themselves in the type of activity we have seen here today.

Senator O'Brien raised the question of the Dublin ambulance service, something which was raised in the past two days on the Order of Business. It is subject to a HIQA report. Patient safety is of paramount importance and must be addressed. There must be consultation and negotiation. I have been in contact with the Minister's office. He is willing to come here at 5 p.m., but cannot be here any earlier. He is booked up. He cannot give a guarantee he is available next week. I leave it to the Senator to decide if he wants to be here for 5 p.m. when the Minister will be available. We will have to decide whether the House wants to wait until 5 p.m. for the Minister.

Senators Bacik and Brennan and several others referred to the unemployment figures. The latest live register figures show a continuing fall in the numbers of people signing on, marking 39 consecutive months of decrease. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, has highlighted other positive trends including, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the fact that 4,300 people left the live register in a month. The standardised unemployment rate is at 10.1%, a decrease of 0.2% in a month, and is down from a high of 15.1% in February 2012 when the Government launched and began implementing the Action Plan for Jobs.

The annual decreases occurred in all eight regions, as Senator Brennan has outlined, with the fastest decrease occurring in the mid-west region. Some 141,151 people left the live register to take up work during the past 12 months. The exit rate from the live register into work is running at 40%, up from 33% in 2012. Every person who leaves the live register to take up employment saves the Exchequer approximately €20,000 per annum in reduced social welfare expenditure and increased tax revenue, and helps to create a reinforcing cycle of positive economic benefits. Seeing our economy thriving as it is at the moment is something that is to be welcomed by all. The benefits are filtering down to people in the regions and throughout rural Ireland.

Senators Bacik and Mullen referred to the wonderful news from Glanbia, namely, the opening of a plant in Belview Port in Kilkenny. It will create over 1,600 spin off jobs, as Senator Mullen mentioned. It is a great investment in rural Ireland, about which we have been speaking on the Order of Business today. There were some negative but many positive points about the activities in rural Ireland, which need to be highlighted. I compliment Glanbia on its development. It will be very important for the dairy industry in the country and the economy in general.

Senator Bacik mentioned the review group report on the Mental Health Act 2001.The Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, has published the expert group report on the Mental Health Act 2001, which review is in line with the commitment in the programme for Government to initiate consultation with service users, carers and other stakeholders on mental health and human rights standards. We might have a debate on that issue in early course.

Senator Barrett, Senator Healy Eames and other Senators raised the issue of the removal of languages as entry requirements in third level colleges. We need to upgrade our language and maths curricula. As stated by Senator Healy Eames, this issue should be discussed by the education committee as a matter of urgency. I hope that members will raise it with the chairman of that committee, Deputy Tuffy, whom I am sure will facilitate that debate. There is a need for greater emphasis on language and maths skills.

Senator Coghlan spoke about the unfair treatment of suppliers by multiples. Senator Quinn had a different viewpoint from Senator Coghlan in that regard and outlined that he would not be in agreement with any plans to limit competition. Senator Quinn also raised the issue of the corporate tax rate in Northern Ireland and the need for us to be vigilant in that regard. I agree with him that competition is of paramount importance. I agree also with the Senator's commentary on the language skills issue.

Senator Mooney referred to a proposed Private Members' Bill which seeks to reduce bankruptcy from three years to one year. I am sure it will be debated in the other House and also in this House. There has already been far-reaching and substantial reform of our bankruptcy law, including by way of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, which reduced the period of automatic discharge from bankruptcy from 12 years to three years. That legislation came into effect in December 2013. There have been drastic changes in this area. During debate on that legislation, the Minister mentioned that if there is a need for further review of it, that will happen.