Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is going to look at the commission's report. It considered a wide variety of data before reaching recommendations. I was not part of it. I certainly want to see people have a decent wage, but I also want to see the country open for business and being competitive. That is the balance we must strike.

Senator Diarmuid Wilson raised the critically important issue of Youthreach. I commend him for his work in the area. He has been a very strong advocate and innovative when it comes to further education for young people. As a former director of adult education, I agree that Youthreach is something we must continue to pursue and fund adequately. I will ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Neale Richmon, as always, made a timely and important contribution on Brexit, as well as on the Presidency of the European Union in 2017. I agree with him that it would be a huge honour, given the way in which the country performed when it last held the Presidency, to have it bestowed on us again. I will certainly take up the matter with the relevant Minister. I hope I speak for the House in saying it is our view that the Taoiseach should make the case in Brussels for Ireland to fill the vacancy in 2017.

Senator Fintan Warfield referred to Galway and the arts. We wish it well as capital of culture. As a member of Cork City Council when that city held the honour, I note that it is not only a great opportunity for the arts but also the wider city. I take on board the Senator's about the Film Board and funding and will ask the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to come to the House to discuss the issue. I am not sure why the Cinemobile has been removed. If the Senator gives me the details, I will forward them to the Minister.

Senator Michelle Mulherin referred to the ongoing issues for the Saolte health group. I will be happy to take up the matter with the Minister for Health and to have him come to the House to discuss it.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill raised the issue of HSE accountability. As a former member of the HSE forum, I agree fully with him that such fora are complete talking shops. I remind him, however, that it was his party leader who, as Minister, got rid of political democracy in HSE fora. I am not being political, but it was a huge mistake. There is no accountability and the forums are just talking shops as a result. They let the executive away with a great deal. No mandate is provided for public representatives to question it and hold it to account. I will be happy to support him if there is anything we can do to make it happen in a different way. That is part of the problem. To be fair, there are very good people working in the HSE, including many strong and vibrant managers, but they need to be held to account, either at local level, on a quarterly basis at the Oireachtas committee or before the Committee of Public Accounts. I strongly believe the local dimension in the old health boards is missing. We need to go back to that model. I will be happy to pursue the matter with the Senator.

Tá an suim ag an Aire Stáit teacht chuig an Teach sin tar éis na laethanta saoire le haghaidh díospóireachta ar an teanga, an straitéis agus cursaí Gaeltachta. The Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, is willing to come to the House. We had hoped to bring him here before the summer recess, but, unfortunately, the legislative programme in the Houses precluded him from coming.

Senator Martin Conway raised the wider issue of flooding, not just in County Clare, to which he rightly referred, but also in many other parts of the country. I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canny, about the matter and he is willing to come to the House at a later stage to discuss it.It is important that we have an update on the plans put in place since the flooding of last year and earlier this year. I will be happy to have that matter debated in the autumn.

I did not respond to two issues yesterday. Senator Maria Byrne raised the issue of ash dieback disease. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Andrew Doyle, gave me a note yesterday stating he has put in place measures to address both the impact of the disease and the future of the hurley. Those of us from hurling counties, although they may not be strong at the moment, realise it is important that we preserve our native games.