Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach caught me by surprise. I thank the 16 Senators for their contributions on the Order of Business.

I share Senator Ardagh's concerns about the help-to-buy scheme and thank her for raising the matter. The scheme was established by the Government to help first-time buyers, given the critical difficulty in the market. The Government made no apologies about that because it wanted to promote home ownership and allow people to buy.Any roadblocks in that scheme should be ironed out and immediately changed. It is important that we allow for the scheme to work and if there are teething problems for them to be ironed out. I am happy for the Minister to come to the House. In order to expedite the matter, I suggest the Senator table a Commencement matter on the issue because it is important and I share her concern about it.

Senator Ardagh and Senator Humphreys raised the issue of air pollution and the impact it is having on the lives of many home owners and residents in the city of Dublin in particular. It is a source of concern that 13 of the areas that were mentioned are inadequate in terms of air quality. It is important that the Minister, Deputy Naughten, along with the EPA, are allowed to work together on the matter. It is clear that there is a need to consider other initiatives and schemes for diesel cars, as Senator Humphreys rightly said. There is a proposal to ban the use of diesel cars in some European cities. Over time the Government has taken initiatives to improve the quality of vehicles but it is a good idea to invite the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to the House to discuss the issue.

Senators Craughwell, Mulherin and Leyden raised Brexit. In the context of the cross-Border initiative in health raised by Senator Craughwell, there is very strong North-South co-operation on arrangements and protocols in the health sector. Senator Feighan made a similar comment. I would be happy for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter Senator Craughwell raised. If he has a specific issue regarding medical care, he could come back to me with it because there is a very good North-South relationship with people being treated for various issues in Donegal, Altnagelvin and Craigavon.

Senator Conway Walsh raised the scandal of tracker mortgages. All of us in the House support the people with tracker mortgages who were affected. They were the unwilling victims of the crisis. However, she did not mention that the finance committee is investigating the matter. The Governor of the Central Bank was before the committee prior to the Christmas recess. The Central Bank is undertaking an investigation and that work is under way. The report will come back to the finance committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Governor of the Central Bank will also come back to the committee. It is important that people are put on the correct rate. As the Minister, Deputy Noonan, said last night, people should be punished for wrongdoing in that regard. It is a bit opportunistic of Senator Conway Walsh to come to the House this morning and not to give credit to the Oireachtas for the work that is already under way. We all share the sentiment underlying the thrust of the motion that those who are on the wrong mortgage, the victims, should not be penalised and people should be brought to task for what has happened.

Senator Black raised a very tragic issue, namely, the death of Shane O'Farrell. I join her in sympathising with his family. I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to reply to her request. I do not have the up-to-date position on it but any measure that could give solace and comfort and a sense of closure in terms of the investigation on the cause of death should be considered. I cannot give a commitment but I will ask the Minister to liaise with the Senator on the matter.

Senator Humphreys raised bogus marriages. I join him in commending all those involved. I pay tribute to him because in his former guise as a Minister of State he was very proactive on the issue and we worked together on it. We must be very vigilant on the issue because, as we saw from the events in Dublin Airport this week, there are many different ways in which people try to come into the country and stay here. The Senator raised a very important point. I commend all those involved in the matter he raised.

Senator Byrne raised the issue of Ruth Negga and the Oscars. I wish her well and hope she secures an Oscar. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss the arts.

Senator Leyden raised the issue of Brexit and who is involved in the negotiations. The Taoiseach is the lead person in the Government on Brexit.