Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----the Leader programme so it could be the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan.

Senator Mooney also called for a debate on special needs assistants, SNAs, with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and I am happy to seek such a debate. As many colleagues have said, it was very welcome to hear the Minister for Education and Skills announce this week the allocation of additional resources to support children with Down's syndrome in schools in terms of access to special needs assistants. Senator Mulcahy also spoke very strongly on this issue and on the varying abilities and different needs of children in terms of SNA allocation. We would all be very conscious of that and the National Council for Special Education take that into account in allocating. Not all children require special needs assistants for the same number of hours per week, which is a very obvious point to make. We will certainly invite the Minister to House to discuss that issue.

Senator Paul Coghlan referred to the Bord Bia Irish food showcasing event in the Dublin Convention Centre today. I think it is being referred to as speed marketing but it is modelled on speed dating. Irish companies are being matched with international buyers and clients to boost the food industry here. As the Senator said, many millions of euro worth of new business is being targeted and it is a really welcome initiative. I listened to some of the reports on it this morning and it sounds like a very exciting initiative. There is no doubt the food industry has been a major success in recent years in Ireland. A number of other colleagues supported the idea of a debate on the food industry, which would be worth having in this House.

Senator Norris referred to attendance at the Order of Business and I entirely agree with him. He raised two related issues, one of which Senator Cummins, the Leader of the Seanad, referred to earlier this week, namely, Members appearing at the start of the Order of Business and leaving or appearing right at the end and intervening then. There is a matter of common courtesy of people staying in the Chamber for the response, having sought one.

The second issue the Senator raised was the timing of the Order of Business. Only today I put in a request that we have a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to address this issue and to bring back the starting time of the Order of Business on Wednesday and Thursday mornings to 11.30 a.m. rather than 12 p.m. That would be a sensible move but it is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Senator Norris also raised the very tragic German aeroplane crash. As others have done, I have expressed sympathy to the families of 150 tragic victims. The Senator referred to recent reports that this may not have been an accident but at the moment, it is not yet clear what caused that terrible crash. There are new reports this morning about the cause but it may be too soon to express a settled view on that. However, it is an utter tragedy for all concerned.

Senator Naughton referred to the community enterprise centres, in particular the enterprise centre in Galway which has 41 new start-ups and the increased funding for that, which she welcomed. She sought a debate with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, on jobs creation generally, for which we will certainly look. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, comes to the House on a fairly regular basis on this important issue.

Senator Craughwell referred to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland and support for it from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's Pobal scheme. Last year when he was appointed, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, intervened to restore funding to a number of different groups facing loss of funding. That was dealt with at that point. In terms of the specific association to which he referred, it might be best dealt with by way of a Commencement debate. The Senator said he will look for the Minister for Education and Skills to come to the House but perhaps he should ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to do so specifically on that issue relating to one organisation. There is a broader issue of funding generally through the same scheme which the Minister might come to the House to deal with because many organisations are affected.

I agree entirely with the Senator's comments on dyslexia. I have taught many law students with dyslexia. They have graduated with flying colours from law studies in Trinity College, Dublin, but in the past, they would probably not have made it to third level. The supports at all levels are hugely important and at third level, we have put in very significant supports across colleges for students with dyslexia as it is now well recognised.

Senator Comiskey also welcomed the food conference in the convention centre today and referred to 2015 as a very exciting year for the food industry. Again, we might ask the Minister, Deputy Coveney, or the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, to come to the House to discuss that issue.

Senator Byrne referred to the very successful public consultation held in this Chamber on Monday on farm safety. We will have a debate on the report to be produced as a result of that. He also made an excellent suggestion that the Seanad Public Consultation Committee might take on a review of housing policy rather than just have a debate in this House. There is quite a number of different strands. As we know, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has allocated significant increased funding for the social housing construction programme. Social housing building effectively ceased in the boom years and we are now playing catch up. That is a large part of the problem but as Senator Hayden said, there are other issues around the future of home ownership and the rental sector. The issue of repossessions was also mentioned. It is an issue which perhaps the Seanad Public Consultation Committee would be better suited to address rather than simply having statements in the House. The Senator might wish to ask the Seanad Public Consultation Committee to take that on as the next issue, following farm safety.

The Senator also called for a debate on the potato and horticulture industry. Perhaps it would be appropriate to include that in a general debate on the food industry. Senator Mullins remarked on the publication by the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation of a report today on policy options to support business growth and job creation and retention in town and village centres. I have had a quick look at the report, which Senator Mullins gave me. Certainly, it seems to make some important recommendations. Perhaps we could have a debate on the report in the House in the context of a more general debate on job creation. Undoubtedly, focusing on growth in town and village centres is singularly important. Issues like free parking, rates reduction and so on are vital to ensure more vibrant community development in towns and villages throughout Ireland.

Senator Crown raised the issue of potential legal challenges between different State bodies. Other colleagues raised this issue earlier in the week. The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, has indicated he wants to see the matter between the HSE and HIQA on Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise resolved in particular without recourse to the courts. I imagine we would all agree on that.

The Senator also raised a bigger issue concerning the state of obstetric services throughout Ireland and associated data. There are two issues. First, some of the specific information the Senator seeks might best be sought through a Commencement matter or a parliamentary question in the Dáil. As the Senator is well aware, there is an issue relating to data in maternity hospitals and data concerning maternity and obstetric services. I spoke on the matter recently at an Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation midwifery conference. Midwives and those engaged on the front line of the profession are concerned. A debate in the House with the Minister for Health on the state of obstetric and maternity services more generally might be appropriate. It is a matter of trying to get what data are available but there is a more general debate.

Senator Hayden commented on the housing issue and in particular on the Private Residential Tenancies Board rent index study released today. It shows dramatically rising rents throughout different areas in Ireland, not only in Dublin. Senator Hayden was very impressive on the radio this morning on the same topic. The Senator asked for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, to come to the House to speak about the future of rented housing and home ownership. Perhaps we might look at dealing with those issues as part of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee process because these are far bigger issues than can be dealt with in a once-off session. Senator Bradford also raised this issue and called for a comprehensive debate. He noted the expertise we have in the House with Senator Hayden. We might take that to the SPCC.

Senator Mulcahy spoke on the special needs assistants issue and called for a debate. Many colleagues will empathise with the stories Senator Mulcahy has told of parents contacting him concerning SNA allocations. It is a pressing issue for many people throughout the country.

Senator Mullen asked about tomorrow's business. Clearly, that is a matter for tomorrow's Order of Business and a matter for the House to deal with tomorrow. I cannot deal with it today. I have suggested the Order of Business for today, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach has said.