Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the return of my colleagues and the staff of the Seanad. I am delighted everybody is present in spite of the blustery weather.

I wish to convey my sympathies and those of the Fianna Fáil Party to the family of the lady who died when her caravan was blown off the cliff in the west. It is a stark reminder of how dangerous this type of weather is. We must be especially vigilant when we are driving cars and on the roads.

I join with others who have expressed support for the members of the Defence Forces and their families who gathered outside Leinster House earlier in support of better conditions and increased pay for those who serve in the Defence Forces. I have raised this matter in the Chamber and many colleagues, especially Senators Craughwell, Wilson and Leyden, have raised on numerous occasions the standard of living and the meagre allowances paid to members of the Defence Forces. Many female relatives of members of the Defence Forces have been vocal and they have not ceased in their campaign to ensure the standard of living for members improves. It is a damning indictment of the Government that 30% of the Defence Forces' members are in receipt of family income support, FIS payments. I call on the Minister to address this matter in the House; to make a proper statement on it and to put his money where his mouth is and forget about lip service.

The second issue I wish to raise is BusConnects, a radical new proposal for Dublin Bus. We all want better infrastructure and more investment in Dublin. However, the current plan, although it has some benefits, including a more transparent and streamlined fare system, is causing massive anxiety for many people in the city, so much so that thousands of people have attended public meetings organised by Oireachtas Members regarding this plan, which is colloquially known as the "bus disconnects plan". Bus routes in my constituency such as the 123 and 15A service St. James's Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital, which provide oncology services, but people will no longer have a direct route to these hospitals.

The current proposal seems to affect the elderly, the disabled and infirm. It is not realistic for people who need to attend an appointment to wait and have to change buses once, if not twice, to go to hospital. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport cannot hide behind the National Transport Authority, NTA. The NTA reports to the Minister, the Minister is responsible to Government and the Government must report to the Dáil. I am glad this matter is being debated as we speak in the Dáil. My party has tabled a Private Members' motion on extending the consultation period and I hope the Minister accedes to that request. It is important that we have a better bus service in Dublin but it must be the right service and bus users must be allowed to contribute to the consultation process.

I wish to raise the proposed sale of the John Player site on the South Circular Road, a site that could house 600 people. NAMA is putting this site for sale on the open market in the same week the Government launched its new land initiative plan, under which it proposes to buy houses on the private market. The agency has been allowed to put this site on the open market yet it seems the Government is washing its hands of the process, saying that it cannot interfere with NAMA or the receiver. This property is in the ownership of NAMA, and the Minister for Finance has responsibility for NAMA. He should come to the House and explain the reason this site is being put up for sale on the open market.