Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Votáil 100 is an important event in the history of our country. It is right and proper we celebrate the women who have been and are elected to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell raised the issue of An Post and commended its chief executive, David McRedmond. It is good to see An Post going in the right direction. It is about all of us using the service. The Senator has been a champion of community banking. We need to see further progress made in that regard.

Senator Byrne raised the issue of the good news about Aerospace Asset Trading in Shannon. I congratulate the company. She also referred to the recent investment in Foynes Port. It is a sign of the economy recovering and I commend all involved.

Senators Mulherin, Feighan and Paddy Burke called for the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to attend the House on the birds and habitats directive. All three Senators made pertinent points about getting the balance right between development and preserving and protecting endangered species or habitats. We must get that right because we must have progress. Yesterday, I forgot to mention that Senator Mulherin has been raising the fodder crisis for some time. She also has been advocating balanced regional development for a long time, as have Senators Feighan and Paddy Burke.

I told Senator Devine that we would not oppose the motion concerning a non-HSE parent representative being on the HSE primary care national steering group for children with complex medical needs. The Minister was brought to the House on the matter. At the time, he explained his and the HSE's reasoning why there should not be a parent representative on the board in question. I am not going to rehash that debate. I have had correspondence from parents on the matter myself. The Minister is not bound by a motion of the House.