Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for the diaspora and the Government are committed to exploring the issue. If it takes time so be it because we need to make sure we do it right. There is a profound implication in what is being proposed and we will work to make it happen. The Constitutional Convention does not have the power to instruct but to recommend.

Senator Norris raised direct provision and there is a huge amount of work being done on that. Senator Ó Ríordáin was the Minister of State and the working group is going through the 173 recommendations, of which 140 have already been implemented. Senator O'Sullivan raised the issue of the report in The Irish Timestoday. I have not seen the report but I would be happy to talk to the CPP about it.

Senator Mullen asked for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed. It is more a matter for a Commencement debate. Senator Ó Domhnaill and others asked about health and whether I would be happy for the Minister to come before the House. The matter Senator Devine raised today was raised by Senator Boyhan yesterday. It is something we should talk about at a later date.