Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said, the report of the interdepartmental task force has been sought by Senator Michael Mullins. I can assure the House that, as requested by quite a number of Members, we will have a debate next Thursday on a motion following the Minister's meeting in the European Union yesterday on the refugee crisis.

Senator Katherine Zappone made proposals about rent controls and requested that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, be brought to the House as a matter of urgency. The question of housing was also raised by Senators Aideen Hayden, David Cullinane, Paul Coghlan and Jim Walsh. Many Members complimented Threshold on its report and Senator Jim Walsh came up with some very good points. However, it has to be pointed out that the Government of which his party was part abandoned the building of social housing during the boom, when the country was awash with money and it was wondering how it could spend it. That is one area in which it could have spent it, but it did not do so.

I presume Senator John Crown was looking for permission to publish his Bill. In that case, I will agree to the amendment proposed to the Order of Business, that No. 15 be taken before No. 1.

Senator Jim D'Arcy referred to the regrettable choice of language used by a Sinn Féin councillor in describing as west Brits the people who ran Irish rugby. It was a disgraceful comment. As Senator Jim D'Arcy pointed out, the Irish rugby team is a 32-county team, an all-island team, and we wish it success in its ventures in the Rugby World Cup in the coming weeks. Such comments are bigoted and we are adding credence to them in discussing them in the House.

I note Senator Terry Leyden's comments about the Web Summit. It is to be regretted that it is to be moved next year for the many reasons outlined. They include the exorbitant prices charged by some hotels this year during the summit when they had a captive audience. This is something we will obviously have to discuss at a later stage when we are debating tourism related matters.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell is certainly vehemently opposed to the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Fianna Fáil. She is correct in what she said about Senator Jimmy Harte. He is a man who always despised violence by the IRA. I remember vividly his description of his family house which was attacked by it during the Troubles. He is a man who has always advocated the reunification of the country by peaceful means and with the consent of the majority in Northern Ireland, as his father advocated. Many of the people who advocated it long before the Good Friday Agreement was signed were not taken seriously and frowned upon.However, it is a policy which Senator Jimmy Harte always advocated, as did his family before him.

Senator O'Neill spoke about rural crime and welcomed the publication of the new burglary and dwellings Bill and the announcement of €30 million for village and town renewal. He also made a very important point about the importance of people keeping the serial numbers of items in their house. As he said, many of these items are put up for sale so it is important that people have the serial numbers to give to the Garda to prevent crimes and to catch the people who perpetrate these crimes.

Senator Barrett referred to people with disabilities and said the money should be paid to the people rather than the providers. He is right in that regard. It is something Senator Mulcahy has raised on several occasions in debates on disability. I am sure the Minister has received the message at this stage but I will certainly bring the matter to his attention. Senator Barrett also recalled the deaths of several public service workers when on duty over the summer. We express our sympathies to the families of those workers.

Senator Comiskey raised the replacement of the disadvantaged areas scheme by a new scheme and welcomed that and the moneys being provided for it. He also asked that the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, be invited to the House so the question of rates in rural towns could be examined.

Senator Mooney rightly recalled the fact, which I acknowledge, that Senator Wilson, the Opposition Whip, always gave a pairing to Senator Harte during his illness. That must be acknowledged.