Seanad debates

Tuesday, 23 October 2018

2:30 pm

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Senator Hopkins deserves credit for her work with the Roscommon volunteer information service. She is a strong advocate for it. I congratulate the other aid centres on their upgrades and commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, on the €1.2 million that he has allocated. Senator Hopkins shows the importance of working with groups in the community.

I have no information for Senator Norris regarding the Law Reform Commission. I have not seen the article, read the report or heard anything about the matter, but I would be happy to invite the Minister to attend the House to discuss it in due course.

Senator Lombard raised the issue of education. Senator Lawlor raised the issue of the additional health spend of €700 million. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, took the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill in the House last week. Rather than an overrun, we would all prefer to see value for money and accountability in the HSE's extra €700 million. We now have the largest health budget in the history of the State and I hope it will deliver for people.

Senator Colm Burke referred to the report on the Tuam mother and baby home by the former Senator and now Minister, Deputy Zappone. I welcome the Cabinet decision to have a full forensic examination of the site.I welcome that there is to be a respectful reburial of the babies and a memorial at the site. The work of Catherine Corless is to be again commended today. This must now be about dignity and respect. I hope that at this late stage we can bring dignity and respect to what has been a profound tragedy and blight on our lives. The Senator also raised the issue of the need for a centralised database for unidentified human remains. I welcome that his Bill has passed through the Seanad and I commend him on his work in that regard.

Senator Reilly also raised the issue of schools, for which I thank him.

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