Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 20 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. Senators Ardagh, Conway-Walsh, Craughwell, Devine, Feighan, Boyhan, Colm Burke, Ó Donnghaile and Wilson raised the issue of the collapse of the talks at Stormont yesterday. All of us are disappointed at the outcome and about what has failed to materialise, namely, the return of devolved government. It is now a time for reflection, for regrouping and for leaving the door open to those on all sides of the political divide. I will not exacerbate the antagonism shown by some Senators, other than to say that it is imperative there is devolved government in the North and that all sides come together. We were all of the view that there was an impending agreement. That was what was indicated by the smoke signals coming from the talks. It is incumbent on all involved, be it the British Government, the parties in North or the Irish Government, to take a mature, reflective step back and then proceed. What does not help, and I will not do it now, is to apportion blame. It is critical that there be a government in the North at a time, as Senator Wilson rightly said, when there is a very weak British Government. The North and the Republic are at a critical juncture in the context of Brexit. There is an obligation to wear the green jersey. As we said yesterday, the majority of people in the North voted to remain in the EU. I wish everybody well. It is now a matter of people continuing to keep the door open and talking.

I thank the Senators for their co-operation regarding the Data Protection Bill. The Minister does not have the power of bilocation. I am not sure how the scheduling ended as it did and I thank Senators for their co-operation with adjourning the debate on the Bill at 1.30 p.m.. That has not been done since I become Leader and I hope it will never happen again.

Senators Ardagh, Craughwell, Norris, McDowell, Mullen and Noone referred to the sale of Permanent TSB's loan book. That is disappointing. It is also a source of concern and worry. There is a duty on the bank, in terms of whatever happens with the sale of its loan book, to ensure that the rights of its customers and mortgage holders are protected and upheld. Senator Mullen was right to ask the fundamental question as to what is the solution. As Senators will be aware, under the terms of the relationship framework with the banks, loan schemes do not require the Minister's consent. The bank is required to consult the Minister and I believe it is doing so. It is also important to recognise the contractual rights of the borrowers or tenants will remain in place following the sale of the loan book. Many of us would prefer that it would not happen. I would be happy to arrange for the Minister to come to the House to discuss this issue in due course.

Senator Ardagh referred to the remarks made by the Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, regarding the Magdalen laundries. I know he appeared before the relevant committee yesterday. There is a different viewpoint between the Department and Mr. Tyndall in this regard. The matter needs to be ironed out. There is a need achieve justice for the women involved. I am sure all of us will work to ensure that happens.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of Versatis. Senator Ardagh's party, Fianna Fáil, has a motion relating to this matter on the Order Paper and agreed to allow the facilitation of a debate on it next week. We have a combination of Senator Conway-Walsh raising the issue and Senator Ardagh's party having tabled a motion, in respect of which a debate has been arranged, on it. I thank all Senators for their co-operation regarding that debate. I am happy for it to take place next week and, therefore, I will not have an engagement on the issue now.

Senators Hopkins and Feighan referred to the relocation scheme. The Cathaoirleach made the sensible suggestion that it might be more appropriate to table a Commencement matter on the issue. I hope the Senator Hopkins will do so.

Senator McFadden again raised the issue of PDFORRA and the issue of pay and conditions in the context of the role of the Defence Forces. The Senator made a fair point. I would be happy to arrange a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, on that matter. Certainly, the issue of security duty and rates of pay is one that needs to be continually addressed, especially in view of the work Defence Forces personnel do at very unsocial, family unfriendly hours and which can be very dangerous at times.

Senators Gallagher, Colm Burke and Reilly referred to the role of GPs. As the a former chairman of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, I have great respect for all GPs. They do a tremendous job within our health system. It ill behoves people to come in here with half-baked stories. What the Taoiseach said - and it was a fair point if the Senators want to listen to it properly - was that if two fewer patients per GP practice were referred to hospital and could be dealt with in primary care settings, that would free up nearly 6,500 spaces in accident and emergency departments in acute hospitals. That is not a very unreasonable suggestion.