Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will respond first to Senator Daly and the other Senators who raised the issue of rural Ireland, the rural GP practice scheme in particular. The Government is committed to ensuring patients throughout the State continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas and also in certain urban areas. The rural GP practice is top of the agenda as part of the discussions on the new GP contract under way with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO. In fact, Ireland has a very low rate of GP vacancies nationwide. As of 1 January 2016, there were 15 GMS lists without a permanent GP in place out of a national total of more than 2,400, which is only 0.06%. Of the 15 GP vacancies, only five are in rural areas. Half the 15 vacancies are recent and have occurred in the past 12 months. However, each of these lists has either a locum GP or a neighbouring GP who has taken over the list and who is providing the full range of GP services to patients. Patients continue to have access to GP and primary care services. I hope this allays concerns on that very specific issue the Senators raised.

On the broader issue of jobs and unemployment in rural areas, the Government has consistently said that job creation has been a top priority since the Government took office in 2011 when the rate of unemployment was over 15%. We have seen a dramatic drop in unemployment, which must be welcomed whichever side of the House we are on. The launch this week of Action Plan for Jobs 2016 noted that the first plan was launched with a target of 100,000 extra jobs by 2016. Many people, including some Members across the floor of the House, criticised the plan at the time as being unrealistic. However, according to the independent Central Statistics Office figures, the target was hit 21 months early in 2015. There are now more than 135,000 additional people at work today compared with when the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched. That is a significant and remarkable achievement. The 2016 plan has set a target of 50,000 extra jobs this year and outlines 304 actions. These are particularly focused on regional jobs outside the Dublin area. Following on from the successful roll-out of the regional jobs plans, further actions to support regional jobs growth will be supported by €530 million in funding. There is also a national cluster initiative focused on strengthening rural initiatives to ensure job creation. We can see an impressive roll-out of rural jobs within the agrifood industry and the food and drink industry.

Senator Daly acknowledged the UN Human Development Index which has produced a very welcome statistic that Ireland is the 7th best place in the world in which to live, which is great news for us all. Senator Daly also spoke, with his customary eloquence, about 1916 and the commemorations this year, to which we all look forward, in particular the 97th - rather than the 98th - anniversary of the first Dáil sitting in January 1919. Colleagues will recall that in 2009 a significant commemoration was held in the Mansion House and I hope we will have a similarly significant commemoration in 2019 for the centenary of the first Dáil sitting.

The proposed national anthem protection Bill 2016 was referred to. I have not seen the Bill but, as Senator Conway has said, it appears to be eminently worthy of discussion among the Whips and deserves support. I disagree with Senator Crown when he said there was a civil war on this issue. Any colleague who spoke on either side of the House was very much supportive of the principle of the Bill. Senator Conway, speaking on that Bill, also called for a debate on tourism and pointed to the success of The Gathering, the need perhaps for another gathering, and the great success of the Wild Atlantic Way which has driven tourism, job creation and local enterprise across the west. I agree with the Senator's calls for a debate on Brexit which is of huge significance for Ireland. While we look to have debates on issues raised by colleagues, there is a full legislative schedule over the next two weeks. It will be difficult to include any time for statements given the legislation before the House.

A number of issues were raised by Senator Norris. He referred to a meeting he had today with members of the TUI from Cork Institute of Technology and with whom I and other colleagues have also met. I would like it put on the record that I have a very strong personal connection with Cork Institute of Technology. It is a superb third level institution which offers a high quality of education. It is eminently deserving of technological university status. The Technological Universities Bill was raised by some colleagues. The Government has been pushed over recent years to bring this Bill forward.