Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree fully with Senator O'Brien and I pass on my congratulations to Senator Norris. Nobody has campaigned for as long and as hard as he has. I also congratulate Senators Zappone and Power and the many others who took part actively on the "Yes" side of the campaign in the referendum. We also welcome the new Deputy.

Today is a very important day for another reason. Today saw the publication of the report of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on farm safety. It is a tremendous and very useful report and I congratulate the Chairman of the committee, Senator O'Donovan, and its rapporteur, Senator Martin Conway, for all the work they put into it. I also hope the rest of us assisted somewhat. It makes recommendations on the education front, in terms of awareness of new technologies, on targeted agricultural modernisation and on a scheme for tractor safety, and we know how important that is. It also deals with farm safety visits, a tractor adaptation grant which we have recommended, assistance for bereaved families and a scrappage scheme. Of particular importance in this area are PTO shafts, the dangers they present and the number of bereavements for which they are responsible. I lost a great friend in Ballyhar when a tractor pinned him down for 24 hours and he died a short time after being found in the cold of winter. I do hope the Minister and his departmental officials take serious note of everything that is in this report. It will be sent to them now and I look forward to the Leader giving a commitment to a debate on the report, for which the Chairman of the committee asked. The report is most useful and I heartily recommend it.