Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will come to that. They are looking to all of us to give them some type of hope in terms of cost reduction, services and value for their money.This poses the issue who should pay and who should benefit in the next budget. I look forward to the Minister coming to the House, hopefully before, or definitely after, the budget, to discuss chid care, because it is very important. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will be in the House during the next few weeks. We had a pre-budget discussion before the recess. The Senator can raise the issue as part of the discussion with the Minister and Minister of State. The Senator is correct. As Members of the legislative assembly we must make every effort to ensure the squeezed middle are looked after in some shape or form.

Senator Tim Lombard is correct about the grain industry. Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile raised north Belfast. I join him and all others in commending the two mediators regarding the parades resolution. It is important that all of us, no matter what our political ideology is, work to continue to bring both sides in the North together. The parades resolution is one area in which we can see some type of normality returning. I commend all involved. I agree with the Senator that it can be a transformative result that can benefit the lives of people in both communities.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the important issue of the 9% VAT rate. In the post-Brexit era it is important that the tourism sector continues to receive a break so we can attract visitors from across the world to come to our country. We welcome the increase in visitor numbers and passenger numbers in our airports. It behoves me as Leader to echo the views I expressed here before, that when we see hotels in our capital city and across the country raising their rates, it sends the wrong message and defeats the purpose of the 9%, which was to attract tourism. The Restaurants Association of Ireland is meeting today across the road. It has worked with the tourism industry in other areas to ensure prices are kept down by having a variety of menus. I hope the hotel sector will continue to work with all of us to keep prices down. If hotels raise their prices, different types of competition will enter the market. It behoves all of us to become an Ireland of welcomes with our prices kept down rather than being increased.

Senator Robbie Gallagher raised Brexit. During the coming weeks, we will have a series of debates on Brexit when Senators will have an opportunity to discuss it with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and other Ministers. I join the Senator in commending the Ceann Comhairle on holding the symposium on Brexit in the Mansion House last week. It was a very worthwhile and informative event.

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of health and I thank him for doing so and for commending those who work in the health service. We are 13th on the table he mentioned. It is important we continue to invest in health, continue to have people staying in our country working in the health service and that we recruit people across the sectors. I join Senator Paul Daly in hoping Ministers and Opposition Members stop flying kites that will frighten people about what is coming in the budget. The Minister for Finance has said the budget will not be a giveaway budget. To listen to the Opposition, if one added up all they had one could fill every stadium in the world. In reality, we have €1 billion at our disposal. A ratio of two to one tax and spending has been agreed. If we all entered the world of reality in which we live rather than the world of make believe, we would do our constituents and those we represent a better service.

I agree with Senator Frank Feighan that there is a very strong and progressive hospital in Roscommon where there is much activity. Senator Paddy Burke raised the issue of hedge cutting. From limited information, the local county engineer has the power to cut hedges and make roads safe. The Senator is correct. There has been an increase in fatalities on our roads and there is a need for better co-ordination between local authorities, Transport Ireland and the utilities companies in terms of how they do work and cut hedges in rural Ireland. I will be happy to take it to the Departments regarding bring the hedge cutting date forward.

Senator Joe O'Reilly raised the important issue of car insurance and referenced an increase of 40% in some cases. It is an attack on work. He is dead right on that. It is a very penal attack on young people who, in many cases, cannot afford insurance.The Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is chairing a cross-departmental committee on the matter and the Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, Deputy John McGuinness, has held hearings into it. It is important we continue to be mindful that this is an important issue for many.