Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the Taoiseach coming into the House to answer that question, the Government is responsible to Dáil Éireann, not Seanad Éireann. I have said this before. It is not something I like saying, but it is a constitutional fact.

Senators Michael Comiskey and Michael D'Arcy welcomed the announcement on milk quotas. It can only be good news for farmers and rural Ireland, in particular. It will lead to the creation of a large number of jobs where they are needed and provide great opportunities for the farming sector.

Senator Terry Leyden referred the case of Fr. Niall Molloy. I have not read the report and do not wish to comment on it.

Senator Aideen Hayden referred to the need to have a debate on the banking sector. The Senator has asked for such a debate on a number of occasions and stated she wants the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, to come to the House for it. I have made several requests, but, as I am sure everyone will agree, the Minister has been elsewhere in Europe on many occasions and only came back from America yesterday. I will renew my representations to have a debate on the banking sector.

I note Senator Cáit Keane's points and call for a debate on the issue of jury service. I am sure the justice committee will also take up the matter.

Senator Lorraine O'Higgins welcomed the statement of the Garda Commissioner on the intimation of gardaí and members of the public on social media. I agree that social media outlets have a duty of care to their users and will ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, to come to the House to debate the matter.

Senator Colm Burke mentioned the allocation of €205 million for more than 2,500 housing units in Cork. I agree with him that appropriate measures should be taken to ensure these units will be delivered on time. I am sure the Minister and his Department will be pushing the local authorities to ensure this happens.

The Senator also raised the matter of the cost of insurance for professionals in the medical sector, a matter he has sought to raise with the Minister on several occasions. I will renew my representations to the Minister on the matter.

Senator Rónán Mullen spoke about the State Claims Agency and the admission of liability. The Minister for Health has commented on this issue and I am sure he is aware of the Senator's comments on the admission of liability which have been broadcast on several occasions in the newspapers and elsewhere

In addition to speaking about milk quotas, Senator Michael D'Arcy expressed disappointment at the allocation for the provision of housing in his county. Each local authority was asked to bring forward specific building projects up to 2017. As part of that strategy, targets had to be agreed with each local authority in 2015. I am sure the allocation lies somewhere between what a local authority had sought and what it agreed to. The Dublin local authorities will be set housing targets by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government over and above what they proposed to ensure strong delivery where the need is greatest. The combined total up to 2017 for the Dublin local authorities comes to more than €500 million. Approximately 300 separate building proposals are being assessed by the Department and projects will be announced in a number of phases starting in mid-April. Construction work is under way on social housing projects on approximately 33 sites throughout the country. It will continue apace in the next two to three years.

Senator Tom Sheahan mentioned that €62 million had been allocated in housing grants in County Kerry. He also welcomed the funding being put in place for the recruitment of eight new guides at Muckross House, something he had been for quite some time. I am sure it will be welcomed by the people of County Kerry.

Senator Darragh O'Brien welcomed the announcement by EirGrid. The matter was raised on the Order of Business yesterday. It was also raised as a Commencement Matter in the House this morning by Senator Denis Landy. The Senator might look at what the Minister had to say during that debate.