Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There will be no ambiguity about that.

Senator Coghlan raised the important issue of obstetric services at Tralee General Hospital. He highlighted the issue of risk management. I commend him for that. I would like to pick up on one reference he made to the hospital. Clinics are being held in the hospital. I understand that the issue is one of shared theatre space. I might be wrong in that regard. There is not an exclusive theatre for the particular obstetric issue to which he referred. I will be happy to ask the office of the Minister, Deputy Harris, to deal with the Senator regarding the issue he raised.

As Leader of the House, I will not in any way prevent Senator Swanick from bringing forward the issue of divestment of shares in the tobacco industry. We all subscribe to the issue of a tobacco-free Ireland. I commend the Senator on the work he has been doing to promulgate an alternative to cigarette smoke at all times. We can talk about having time set aside at the appropriate time.

Senator McDowell raised the bedsit regulations that were introduced in 2013. I know the former Tánaiste, Deputy Burton, asked for them to be reviewed in 2014. Bob Jordan, who is now an adviser for the Minister, Deputy Coveney, made the point at the time that the elimination of bedsits was not necessarily the problem. Senator McDowell made an interesting point about how we can increase capacity. It is one we should look at. I will put in a request for the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to come to the House.

We cannot compromise on standards when it comes to the space, the type and quality of accommodation and the actual physical environment where people live. Those of us who are engaged in constituency politics will know that the conditions in some cases are absolutely appalling. I appreciate that this is not Senator McDowell's view, to be fair. I hope that if we relax the conditions, we are not allowing for the squalor to come back. The Senator made a good point about who inspects these properties. The Health Information and Quality Authority looks at things like health and safety, hygiene and food hygiene. It sometimes strikes me that apartments and other forms of living accommodation are not inspected. I do not want to bring big brother into it. I have seen some absolutely unacceptable accommodation recently. The points made by Senator McDowell can be considered when we have a debate on housing in a couple of weeks or as soon as we can.

Senator Byrne spoke about Orkambi, which is used to treat cystic fibrosis. It is important for the Minister to engage with all of us, but especially with Vertex on how to keep the price down so that this drug is affordable and accessible for people. I will be happy to have the Minister come to the House in this regard.

Senator Gavan mentioned the issues at Bus Éireann. I appreciate that we need a public bus system. We need public transport. I think the language we use is important. We can scare people by talking about routes being gone. Senator Gavan knows well that this is not going to happen. He can give me all the Sinn Féin spin he wants.