Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope he will make the invitation because it is important in the context of the Brexit vote. To be fair to Senator Paddy Burke, who was Cathaoirleach in the last Seanad, he was innovative in his invitation to the Orange Order to speak in this Chamber.I hope that we can do the same in this House this time. This is about building new bridges and a new world. I concur with Senator Burke on his remarks and hope we can do that.

Senator Martin Conway raised the issue of dementia and the Alzheimer's strategy and also spoke about libraries. We should have a debate on these issues. The implementation of the dementia strategy should be put on the agenda for future discussion and the issue of books and reading is one we also need to pursue.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the issue about the pay-by-weight system. Senator Tim Lombard and Senator Colm Burke raised the important issue of the proposed merger of Cork city and county councils. This is about the biggest county and the second city having a proper local government structure. There are differing viewpoints. To be fair to the Minister, he was probably asked a question by a journalist, but it is important that we have clarity and I am happy to ask the Minister to come to the House with regard to the issue.

Senator Victor Boyhan and another Senator - I cannot read my notes - raised the issue about the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI. There is an ongoing issue here that needs to be addressed. As the Chairman of the last health committee, I can tell the House that we had representatives from the board in before the committee. It is an issue that needs to be addressed and I agree fully with the Senators who raised it. This concerns not just registration but also process and ensuring the system is working to maximum effect. We should have a debate on it and I am happy to arrange it.

Senator John O'Mahony raised the issue of tourism and the need for a debate on it. I hope the Minister will come before the House to discuss it.

Senator Robbie Gallagher raised the issue of motor insurance. As we have discussed on previous occasions during the Order of Business, it is important that the Minister for Finance, who is engaged in a series of talks on it, would bring about a resolution to the issue of the high cost of travel and motor insurance.

Senator Devine also raised the important issue of the dementia strategy and spoke on behalf of Senator Kelleher who has done Trojan work in her role as chief executive of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Senator Devine also spoke about the NMBI. We need to have a debate on both of those matters.

Senator Paul Gavan raised the issue of Ibrahim Halawa. A request was made yesterday and, as I said earlier, in terms of the new politics, if I can do it I will do it. The Minister will be before the House today at 3.15 p.m.

Senator Catherine Noone has rightly raised the ongoing issue of the mobile phone network infrastructure and coverage. As a nation, we need to urgently address the issue, especially in the context of the vote last week. We will now be the only English speaking country in the European Union, so we need to have a mobile and broadband infrastructure that is in pristine condition. Sadly, in places where one would expect it to be in that condition - I am not speaking about the side of a mountain or parts of rural Ireland - there is a huge deficit. The national broadband strategy and the way mobile phone carriers do their business and provide service to customers need to be urgently reviewed and acted upon.

Senator Kieran O'Donnell raised the issue of Console. We had lengthy contributions on the Order of Business yesterday on this matter. There are two parts to the story. Console is providing a service on behalf of the HSE and other State agencies to people in genuine and urgent need of care. A gentleman from Cork spoke this morning on "Morning Ireland" about how counsellors such as he were treated in terms of late payments. That they are still offering their services speaks volumes about the quality of the people working in Console. However, Senator O'Donnell's fundamental point concerns governance. Rather than prejudice any further case, and in the interests of the charity sector and the staff, clients and those who fundraise on behalf of Console, he is right that the CEO should stand aside and resign his position to safeguard and protect the organisation.

To conclude, I am happy the Minister will come to the House-----