Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Please do. I note to Senator Boyhan that the next Stage of the Adoption (Amendment) Bill is next Tuesday. It will be Committee and Report Stages, depending on Friday, which is the closing date for amendments.

Senator Ó Domhnaill raised the issue of Brexit in the context of the reunification of our country. Those of us who are republican and wish to see a united Ireland recognise that we have come on a huge journey. However, I must make the point to Senator Ó Domhnaill that the language we use and the way we seek to achieve our aims are important. Sometimes I wonder about the means some people choose. It is important in the context of the question the Senator raised that we overcome the issue of Brexit first and embrace whatever happens in that process in addition to the situation with the elections in the North. We can then answer the question he discusses because it is important to allow for the work of the Good Friday Agreement to be continued and implemented. I am also happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss Palestine.

Senator Landy raised the issue of public banking and I note that the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, will be in the House on 9 February when she will be able to discuss that matter too. I would also be happy to have the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, attend to discuss the issue Senator Mac Lochlainn raised about regional and local roads. We all welcome the increased funding in that regard. The point the Senator made about local improvement schemes was a worthwhile one and I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss it.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the action plan for apprenticeships and training and I would be happy to have the relevant Minister come to the House to discuss it. As a former director of adult education, I note the importance of further education and skills training which fell from view, unfortunately, in the recession. I hope we can have that important discussion. We commend the initiative of Government today on the provision of 50,000 apprenticeships and training places.

Senators Craughwell and Feighan referred to the siege of Jadotville. I pay tribute to the late Walter Hegarty and extend my sympathy to his family on his death. We have had this as part of a discussion here before. I am happy as Leader of the House to work with all sides to bring a motion forward that is acceptable to all of us. It is fair to say that the motion which has been circulated and to which Senator Mac Lochlainn is also a party does not, as currently drafted, reflect some of the things the Government has done. If we can agree a formula of words, we can bring forward an agreed motion. It is important to contextualise this. These are men who served their country and to whom a wrong was done and it is about rectifying that. The Government has tried to do that over time and as such I hope we can agree a motion we can all sign.

Senator Noone raised the important issue of obesity. The Government's Healthy Ireland umbrella project is a means to tackling that and I would be happy to have the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, come to the House to discuss it.

Senators Mac Lochlainn and Leyden raised the issue of inland fisheries and Lough Foyle. Only yesterday, the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, said discussions were under way but there has been no resolution yet. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, is on record as saying Lough Foyle is part of our territorial waters and that situation has not changed since our last discussion. I will be happy to have the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, come to the House to discuss the issues raised by Senator Leyden. The CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, Dr. Ciaran Byrne, spoke at the publication of the report yesterday about the importance of angling in the context of tourism. Angling is a very important tourist attraction in this country and I will be happy to have the Deputy Kyne come to the House to discuss it. Equally, work is being done on a new sea fisheries and maritime jurisdiction Bill albeit I am not sure how we can marry both issues here. Let us hope we can.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan referred to courts and repossessions and I would be happy to have the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, come to the House to discuss the matter. It is important to recognise the independence of the courts in regard to their decisions. The Minister and the Government generally are very conscious of the fact that they must work to ensure that people stay in their family homes.

Senator Colm Burke referred to planning for the future and I join him in welcoming and congratulating those involved in the €20 million development in Cork. This huge development for the city along Camden Place up to MacCurtain Street is one the Cathaoirleach will know quite well. The Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, is working on the document on planning for the future of our cities and I hope that in tandem the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, will do the same in terms of the provision of health services. The issue Senator Colm Burke raised in relation to the need for 5,000 new hospital beds is one that must be seen to be delivered on in the city of Cork through the provision of a new hospital.

Senator Michael McDowell raised the issue of the Judiciary. I join him in particular and also Senator Rose Conway-Walsh, to whom I will refer in a second, in their comments on the barbaric decision of the President of the United States of America to reintroduce torture.As Leader of the House, I hope the Taoiseach who will be travelling to the White House on St. Patrick's Day and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, who will meet Secretary of State Tillerson, if approved, will on behalf of all of us send the strong message that we oppose and abhor the reintroduction of torture. It is outdated, does not work or yield dividends and is contrary to human rights. I hope this House and the nation will send a strong message that we do not in any way condone but condemn the decision of the United States of America and the new President.

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh spoke about the North. The State was not complicit in or silent on the torture of those who were interned. I remind the Senator that the Government brought a case to Strasbourg which it won. She might reflect on that point.