Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The insurance issue is massive. It would be good to have a debate on insurance generally in the House, because insurance is not only an issue in that area. Every time I have taken a taxi recently the drivers have told me they are having problems with motor insurance due to massive increases. It also affect younger people. A wider debate on insurance would be a good idea.

Senator Butler raised the important issue of dementia beds in his area. That would be a good item to put forward for a Commencement debate to get a more substantial, direct and specific answer from the Minister. It is an important issue.

Senator Gallagher and others raised the cut in CAP payments. I cannot say I would be the world's leading expert on CAP payments but it certainly is a massive issue for rural Ireland. Given the fact that in many cases the payments represent 75% of total income it is a major worry. Knowing Mr. Phil Hogan, I believe he will do all in his power to ensure it does not happen, but we will just have to hope that any impact that can be made on the issue will happen over the coming weeks.

Senator Paddy Burke raised Irish Life and the pensions issue and asked that the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection be invited to the House. It would be good to have a debate on pensions generally given that we have an ageing population. I will suggest holding that debate in the coming months.

Senator Boyhan raised the vote in the House of Lords and referred to the relationships that are built by different parliamentary friendship groups and the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. It is incumbent on all of us, now more than ever, to build relationships with the UK.

Senator Mulherin also raised the CAP budget and the national flood management plan. She welcomed the scheme for Ballina and Westport.

In addition to raising the CAP, Senator Conway-Walsh raised the valproate drug which is a hugely negative thing to have happened. A full debate on that would be a good idea, and I will communicate that to the Leader. There is always reason for the Minister for Health to come to the House and it could be discussed in the context of a wider debate, but it certainly warrants discussion. It also could be the subject of a Commencement debate in due course. I find the Commencement debate offers a very satisfactory opportunity to interact on a specific issue.

Senator Marshall also raised the CAP payments. He had a more unusual take on it in the sense that not many people focus on the fact that the reason for these subsidies is to ensure that everybody can have cheaper and affordable food. It is not just a requirement or a need to be subsidised. The sustainability point is very important.

Senator Ó Donnghaile also raised the vote in the House of Lords. Obviously, O'Neills is around for a long time but I had not realised it was 100 years. It highlights how much of an impact Brexit, including the fear of it, is having on companies. We must do all in our power to support companies such as O'Neills, but we congratulate it today.That concludes the responses to the Order of Business.