Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Both sides should engage in talks.

Senator Joe O'Reilly referred to the misuse of alcohol at teenage discos. I know that the Senator has been proactive in his home area and the House on this matter. I was involved in a sports organisation which ran teenage discos. They were well policed by volunteers and no alcohol was consumed. However, it seems the phenomenon of pre-drinking has percolated down to under-age persons. If that is the case, we should have an alternative to teenage discos. Senator Joe O'Reilly also referred to identification cards and the minimum age. There is merit in the matters he raised in that regard.

Senator Robbie Gallagher referred to the shortage of general practitioners and the importance of primary care services. There is a shortage of doctors and we are in a competitive international market. The Minister for Health and relevant organisations are in talks on the GP contract. At one level, despite recent changes, rural practices are no longer viewed as viable or attractive. We must incentivise doctors and consider other ways of addressing the problem, which returns us to the issue of the post office. Rural areas need primary care services and post offices.

Senators Victor Boyhan and Michelle Mulherin referred to the post office network and the report that emerged yesterday, about which Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor spoke yesterday. The Government is committed to working with An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union to reinvigorate the postal service. My information is that the programme for Government has not changed. As Senator Victor Boyhan will be aware, Governments cannot close post offices as such matters are the responsibility of An Post. Yesterday the House debated legislation dealing with the mechanism for capping the price of postal stamps. An Post is losing money. As part of the reinvigoration and revitalisation of rural areas, facilities and services must be provided for people who live in them. We cannot shut down the country at the M50 or at the edge of Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick. We must ensure vibrant services for people outside these hubs. The report Mr. Bobby Kerr submitted to An Post in December 2015 is being considered by the company which has rejected the suggestion it is about to close post offices. The Government is committed to acting on the recommendations made in the report of the post office network business development group. Senators Victor Boyhan and Michelle Mulherin referred to the requirement to maintain a post office network in rural areas. I hope we will not see what is set out in the report come to pass.

I will be happy to have a debate on the legislation to which Senator Maria Byrne referred. On International Women's Day, it is important to have a debate on the role of women. The Constitutional Convention, of which I was a member, discussed the matter. As Senator Diarmuid Wilson noted, gender quotas did not apply in the Seanad elections and fine women were elected on their own merit. I congratulate and thank them for the role they play. It is important to note that women leaders and Members of this House are doing an extraordinary job. Senator Diarmuid Wilson referred to gender quotas. To be fair, Senator Ivana Bacik is recognised as a representative of the Labour Party.