Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join with Senators who have raised the very sad and untimely death of Anthony Foley. To those of us from the sporting world and from Munster, he was an iconic figure. He was an ambassador for sport. He was a loving husband to Olive, a loving father to his two children, a proud son to Brendan and Sheila and a proud brother to his sisters. On my own behalf and on behalf of all of us here, I extend to his family our deepest sympathies. Those of us who were listening to the radio on Sunday afternoon were shocked at the announcement of his sad death. No words of mine can ever describe the joy and love he brought to the lives of so many people.

Equally, I want to join with the Senators who raised the death of Gertrude Mallon, the wife of Seamus Mallon. I pay tribute to her for her sterling support for him and for her work in the bringing of peace to our country. There is the old cliché that behind every good man there is a good woman. In this case, she stood with and she walked with him at times when it was unpopular and very dangerous and difficult for them as a family. Our respect and our love is given to the Mallon family at this time.

Senator Mark Daly raised the issue of the Corporate Manslaughter Bill. Fianna Fáil has Private Members' time next week and I would have no problem having that on the Order Paper for next week. As the Senator is aware, an interdepartmental group was set up in 2010. It has recommended that a Bill be brought forward and that Bill is in gestation. As to what stage it is at, I am not sure, but I am happy to have that discussed as part of Private Members' time next week.

Perhaps Senator Daly might go back to his party leader or party whip in this regard. My understanding in regard to the Committee on the Future of Healthcare is that it is the Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin parties that are objecting to or blocking a vote being taken today in the Dáil regarding the composition of that committee, and that they do not want to have Senators on the committee. I might be wrong on that and, if so, I stand corrected. However, I would be very happy to have all Senators appointed.