Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I shall first deal with specific items on the Order Paper. Why are we taking all Stages of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014 today? As I have said time and again, taking all Stages at once is a poor practice to get into. I have tabled an amendment that asks colleagues to examine the legislation. I do not understand the urgency. I know the Bill is relatively short and I know what it is trying to do. I am concerned that the provision is allowing the commission to set a time limit and a term for certain appointments, such as for the Clerk Assistant of the Dáil and Clerk of the Seanad. We realise that the posts are important, not just for the jobs that are being done in the Houses but outside of the Houses with regard to their positions on the Referendum Commission, SIPO and in terms of constituency boundary reviews. I am not sure how well thought out taking all Stages is. I will raise these points during the Bill. The Fianna Fáil group has tabled an amendment seeking to improve the legislation. I do not believe all Stages should be taken. The Leader should allow more time. I saw the schedule in advance and tabled an amendment which probably facilitates taking all Stages. That in itself is a pity but I did not want to miss the opportunity to table an amendment.

It goes without saying that we need a debate on the figures for Irish Water that were announced today. Before I say it I think we should ban the phrase "solid start" from the Seanad because every Government spokesperson has said "This is a solid start". It certainly is not and is farcical. We have wasted €785 million setting up Irish Water and, based on the returns now, the Government will lose about €35 million this year.There must be a debate on it, and perhaps a more reasoned debate than the one the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, had on the radio this morning. It should be one in which he can answer a few questions, not put it to people that they will all pay in the end anyway. The issue of the household charge, on the last occasion, was different because the Government brought in the big guns of the Revenue Commissioners. In this instance, that option is not available. We must discuss it because it is a massive spend by the Government. I will assume we will have a debate on Irish Water either today or tomorrow, but I will await the Leader's response on that.

I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that Private Members' motion No. 20 be taken before No. 1. I am glad Senator Colm Burke is present because, on behalf of the Government, he has done a good deal of work with regard to the consultant post that is vacant in Beaumont Hospital for a pancreas transplant surgeon. The reason I am proposing the amendment is that the answer Senator Burke was given by the Minister is factually incorrect. There are a number of items in the response given by the Minister. He said that transplant patients had been contacted by Beaumont and St. Vincent's hospitals about the setting up of a special clinic, but that has not happened. It did not happen on the date on which the Senator was given the response, and there is no mention anywhere of the post being filled. The Minister does not mention what surgeon will take that post. The response also stated that the transplant co-ordinators would be reactivated, but that has not happened.

I thank the 26 Senators from all parties and none who signed the motion prepared by Senator Daly and me. It is an important motion. People are waiting for pancreas transplants but they cannot get them. Last week I said that 15 pancreases that could have been used for transplant were not used because that post is still vacant. I formally propose that motion No. 20 be taken before No. 1, so we can tease out these points with the Minister and he might correct the statement he made last week. I will advise Senator Burke separately of the items in the Minister's response that were incorrect.