Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, however, we must give credit where it is due. It is imperative that we work on this strategy. A working group has been established and this will examine alternative approaches regarding possession for personal use as well as how considering how this programme might be rolled out across different communities. The idea is to encapsulate what Senator Ardagh rightly said in terms of the approach of some of community groups in community areas. There is a real need to incorporate community awareness regarding the issue of drugs and drug misuse. This is an issue on which we need to have a collaborative approach.

Senator Ardagh and Senator Devine made reference to the issue of nurse recruitment. The HSE and the Government are committed to public sector reform and have opened up a recruitment campaign. There are now more people working in the public service than was the case in 2014. A number of career open days have taken place throughout the country. I recognise the importance of the nurses in our health system. I pay tribute to them for the work they undertake on behalf of all of us. They operate at the coalface within our health system. They are fine ambassadors for our HSE and for the health system. A recruitment campaign is under way. An attractive package has been put together by the HSE. We must look at ways in which we can incentivise and continue to attract nurses not only to stay in Ireland but to come back and work here, whether in nursing homes or the public health system.

Senator Ardagh made reference to St. Finbarr's Hospital. The hospital is in the city of Cork and provides a range of services to our elderly people and the local population in general. The issues that were highlighted this morning in the Irish Examinerneed to be addressed.

We are competing in a global market for nurses. In general, we need to see more activity and incentivisation. A range of measures have been undertaken by Government. Agreement was reached at the WRC between the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the various Departments in terms of how we can recruit 1,280 nurses in this calendar year. A programme is under way. I accept that we need to do more. However, the programme to which I refer is in place and I would hate to have people think that nothing is being done. This is happening and we are recruiting more nurses. It is imperative that we continue to do so.

Senator Craughwell made reference - not because councillors are constituents of ours - to the important issue of local government and the pay and conditions of all people who are public representatives in local government. The former Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, undertook a campaign. This is being continued by the Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Phelan, and the current Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, in tandem with the Minister of State, Deputy English. They have met people from the various groups that represent councillors. Like all Senators, I share the view that this work needs to continue in an active way, particularly in the context of arriving at an outcome that is positive.We need to have a system of local government that works for the people but that also ensures that we have quality members elected to serve at local authority level, which we have, but we need that to be incentivised. As part of the work in the autumn, we can reconvene under the chairmanship of Senator Gabrielle McFadden, who has been very active, as has Senator Craughwell, in the all-party committee of this House regarding councillors' pay and conditions.

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh made reference to the issue of the Taoiseach and Seanad reform. I have requested that the Taoiseach come to the House in the autumn to speak to us on a variety of matters. I am sure one will be Seanad reform. I will not be accepting the Senator's amendment to the Order of Business today because, as I said last week in the House, and as I said at a group meeting on Wednesday, the important point for this week is to ensure that we have legislation passed. I accepted the Senator's suggestion that we would have statements on the summer economic statement, and that is the only piece of Private Members' business other than Private Members' legislation that we have this week in the House. I have requested that the Taoiseach come to the House and I look forward to a positive result in the autumn. The Swinford Garda district is an operational matter for the Garda, but I would be happy to take that back to the Minister in question.

Senator John Dolan made reference to the national disability strategy and also to the issue of the UN convention. To be fair, it is a good news story. Some €1.65 billion is being unfurled by Government as part of a national disability strategy. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, has said on behalf of Government that we will sign up to the UN convention. He said that there is a guarantee that we will see the convention ratified. As the Senator knows, discussions are ongoing around the number of issues that are particular to families and different organisations as part of that. There are 114 actions in the national disability strategy which must be completed by 2021, encompassing eight areas, including education, employment, housing, transport, accessible transport and many other issues.

Last week in the Dáil and on his appointment, the Taoiseach said that we will sign up to the convention. His aim is to have it done by 3 December, which is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I certainly hope that we can do that. The strategy itself is a standalone document. It does not necessarily require us to sign the UN convention, but I would be happy to have the Taoiseach come to the House, and he can address us as part of that. My priority this week has been the passing of legislation and to ensure that we will have that done by the summer. The Government has committed to €1.65 billion. If Senator Dolan will accept my bona fides that the Taoiseach will come to the House in the autumn and that we will have that discussion in the autumn, I would be happy to have that conversation with him about that.

Senator Kevin Humphreys referenced the issue of renewable energy and the need to have a wide consultation process. I would be happy to have the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, come to the House in the autumn to discuss that issue. If the Senator wants to talk to me later about putting together more structured information about the Bill, I would be happy to talk to him about that and to facilitate that.

Senator Paddy Burke and Senator Paul Gavan made reference to the issue of horse racing and the issue of pay and conditions of workers in the sector. If legislation needs to be amended, I as Leader of the House, give the commitment that we will facilitate the passage of that legislation. I will, in light of the comments from Senator Burke and Senator Gavan about the need for the Minister to come to the House, prioritise this upon our return. It is an important sector, not least in its economic value, but also in terms of the number of jobs provided. I disagree with Senator Gavan, who never loses his chance to critique the Fine Gael policy of employment. Our record on employment is quite good.