Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is up to 2 o’clock and we will continue the rest of business as outlined.

Senator Bacik and others raised the €91 million investment in housing that was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, today which is certainly to be welcomed. We are overdue a further debate on housing and I will try to arrange one.

Senator Bacik also called for a debate on recently published reports on prison and penal reform. I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to attend the House to debate those reports.

Senator Norris raised the question of ethics in sport. The Minister of State with responsibility for sport has been in the House on several occasions recently. There are certainly concerns about FIFA. I note the Senator’s points about the chief executive officer of the body and suggestions of corruption and so forth. That is a matter for FIFA, football’s governing body, to deal with. I do not think anything we say in this House will make any difference to the question of FIFA. We can certainly consider the question of ethics in sport and have a debate on it.

Senator Burke called for proper regulations for home care providers. As he rightly pointed out, he has a Bill on this issue on the Order Paper. We will certainly consider debating that Bill in Fine Gael’s next Private Members’ business.

Senators Higgins and Ó Domhnaill called for an extension to the beef genomic scheme and a debate on it with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I am sure the Minister will be quite willing to come to the House to deal with the matter.

Senator Quinn pointed out how Ireland has dropped several places to 16th place in the world competitiveness standings. We had an excellent debate last night on the Springboard scheme. The issue of competitiveness is important to the development of our economy. I note Senator Quinn’s points in that regard and the Government is mindful of the situation also.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of workers’ rights. The Government has been strong on workers’ rights. I was disappointed in the contributions on yesterday's debate on the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015. Many Members over the past weeks and months have called for a debate on this issue. However, when legislation on it is before the House, a paltry number of Members speak on it. I was very disappointed with that yesterday.

Senator Brennan raised the question of food waste segregation. The House will take an environmental planning Bill later during the session. I am quite sure a number of speakers will want to come in on this Bill. Senator Brennan can raise this question on it then.

Senator Mary Ann O’Brien raised the issue of the charities regulator. I can assure her the regulator has teeth and powers which can be used. Due to requests from quite a number of charities, the Minister has given an extension to them to register with the regulator. Where irregularities have occurred, the charities regulator can investigate them. I was not aware of the specific case she raised. She can bring it to the attention of the Minister. I am sure the Minister will get the charities regulator to act on it.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of payments to chaplains in third level institutions and institutes of technology. The chaplains play an important role in those education facilities. He said Trinity College Dublin pays its own chaplains. The others are paid by whom?