Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----with the exception of the six university Senators, if we were to adopt the policy that we have no constituency, it would be a different story. It is a point at which we need to look on a wider scale, given that we are Members of the Oireachtas and take our role seriously. There is a multifaceted approach to our job; as such, it is ridiculous that members have to use a fob I have said enough, but I agree with Senator David Norris.

Senator Catherine Noone raised an important point about the World Health Organization on the issue of antibiotic resistance. I will be happy for the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, to come to the House to discuss it.

I did not catch the name of the school mentioned by Senator Aidan Davitt in the context of the summer building programme. He might raise the matter in the Commencement debate or e-mail me about it.

If I understood him correctly, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh referred to the oversight of local authorities. It is an important matter. I will be happy for the relevant Minister to come to the House to discuss it.

On the International Protection Act and the McMahon report on direct provision, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy David Stanton, is working on the implementation of the report. I was in a direct provision centre recently. We need to do a lot more to improve the quality of life of people living in such centres. We share a common approach to immigration, the way people are treated and in which applications are processed. I will be happy for the Minister of State to come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator Robbie Gallagher raised an important issue in the context of MABS. There was a committee hearing on the matter recently. It is a worry because MABS provides a huge service in communities and any dilution of the service, forcing people to travel further, would be regressive. I will be happy to have the relevant Minister come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senators Maria Byrne and Colm Burke referred to the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, being before the Committee on the Future of Healthcare to discuss the eight point plan on the future of the HSE. We all recognise the need for change and reform of the HSE. In response to Senator Paul Gavan's prompting of Senator Colm Burke, the Minister is in charge and doing a job. The HSE has been given the biggest Vote in the history of the State this year for the provision of health care facilities and services, but there is a need for accountability. There is a need to have a management structure to get results for patients and staff.