Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It could, and I am not arguing against what Senator Craughwell is saying. To respond to Senator Mark Daly, it raises the question as to what is the best system for planning. I do not want to see what Senator Craughwell has suggested, whereby foreign direct investors will not come to Ireland, and that is the problem we face.

On housing, we had a debate last week with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. We will invite him to the House again to discuss the matter further.

Senators Ruane, Bacik and Lawlor raised the matter of electoral reform in light of the decision by Google to ban referendum related advertising for the remainder of the campaign. I welcome the decisions by Facebook and Google and agree that we need to have an absolute tightening up of regulations around social media and not just in the context of referenda. Social media is the new campaign platform for a new generation. As I said on yesterday's Order of Business, we need to see the establishment of an electoral commission as a matter of priority. Indeed, such a commission is included in the programme for Government. I hope that people will disregard some of the information on the posters used during this referendum campaign. It is disappointing that there is no regulation of what can be included on posters, whether for elections or referendums, other than the name and address of the publisher and printer. It is important that we see real reform of our electoral processes and I am happy to organise a debate on same.

Senator Bacik raised the issue of an all-party motion and debate on Syria. I am quite happy to have that debate but I am sorry that we cannot have it this week or even next week. We will endeavour to have that debate as soon as possible. In the meantime, I urge Senator Bacik to continue to reach out to the other political parties so that we can have an all-party motion on which everyone in the House is agreed. Senator Bacik is right that we must condemn the atrocities that are happening in Syria and condemn all involved.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of events in Westminster and comments by the British Prime Minister. The Tánaiste is in London today and since his appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade he has always been very strong, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, in defending and standing up for our interests and in putting forward a strong case for Ireland, and I know he will do so again.

Senator Joe O'Reilly raised the very important issue of services for those with Parkinson's disease. He is very involved with the Parkinson's Association of Ireland branch in Cavan. He made reference to the need for more specialist Parkinson's nurses and for support for the helpline run by the association. In essence, he raised the need for more investment in services for those with Parkinson's disease. It is a degenerative neurological disease which is devastating for those affected and their families. It is important that services are provided, including day care, helpline support and administration. Senator O'Reilly makes a good case for direct Government funding for the association and I am happy to invite the Minister for Health to the House to discuss the matter further.

I agree with Senator Paul Daly that history and geography should be core subjects in our education system. They encourage curiosity and enhance our ability to understand our past to know where we are going. This is essential in the context of the knowledge economy and I agree with the Senator's remarks in that regard. I am not sure why the Senator raised this matter but I am happy to invite the Minister for Education and Skills to the House to discuss it further.

Senator Colm Burke also raised the issue of litigation and we will have that debate in due course. Senator Devine raised the matter of the appointment of the next director general of the HSE. I share her concerns and her view that the appointment process should be open and transparent. My understanding is that the post will be advertised through publicjobs.ie, as with all other public sector appointments. The Public Appointments Service is independent of Government but we certainly need to look at how we advertise senior posts. As with the appointment of a new Garda Commissioner, I hope that we can reach beyond our own shores if necessary. The position of director general of the HSE is a very important one and I am of the view that it should have been advertised before now. If one takes the example of the GAA, when its director general, Mr. Paraic Duffy, announced his intention to retire, his post was advertised immediately. It is important that we get it right in the context of the HSE.