Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All Members know that it is the prerogative of a union to go on strike. It is important to recognise that we have a public sector pay deal and there have been significant changes to the pay scales and salaries of public sector workers. At this late stage, I hope the Labour Court will engage in further discussion with all sides. All Members recognise the importance of our nurses and the value they bring to our health system. No Senator should claim a monopoly on such knowledge. We all live in our communities and know men and women who are nurses. We have all been in hospitals - some of us have worked in them - and recognise their importance. It is important that dialogue continues. The HSE will announce contingency plans later this afternoon. Some appointments scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled. It is important that all mechanisms are used to avoid and avert industrial action. I hope that the required conversations will take place over the coming 24 hours to ensure that we do not have a nurses' strike tomorrow.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of student accommodation in Dublin 8. We will have the Minister in the House tomorrow for a debate on housing, but I will be happy to have the debate sought in due course.

I will consider further the request made by Senator Boyhan. As far as I am aware, it is not the third but the second time he has asked me.

On the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, let us be very clear, as those who attend the meeting of group leaders on a Wednesday will recognise, I always act in good faith. As Leader of the House, it is my prerogative, on behalf of the Government, to bring forward business to be dealt with in the House. It does change occasionally. I give a caveat to Members today in order that they will not be in any doubt that schedules have changed, not just in my time as Leader but in all Seanaid. I checked the position. It is extraordinary that the only item of legislation on the Order Paper that has not been agreed to at the group leaders' meeting is the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. Every other item of legislation not on the agenda for the Wednesday meeting has been agreed to on the Order of Business. It is, however, my prerogative as Leader to make a decision. Senator Boyhan knows that I am not trying to drive a stagecoach over the schedule and that I try to consult insofar as it is possible to do so. He requested to have the Bethany home issue discussed next week. Today we will also have statements on directly elected mayors. Therefore, I try to accommodate Members insofar as I can. The important point is that, as Members of the Seanad, we have a job of work to do in passing legislation. We have spent an inordinate amount of time dealing with Committee Stage of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. I understand there are very sincere views held by some Members and that other Members are engaged in a game of filibustering, but to be fair, they do not iinclude Senator McDowell, although he may be part of it. The behaviour of some Members has been less than helpful in doing our job as parliamentarians. I fully accept the bona fides of Senator McDowell and I am not questioning him before he comes back and accuses me of doing so. I will not accept the amendment proposed to the Order of Business with regard to the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. For the information of Senators McDowell and Boyhan, to the best of my knowledge, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, will not be available tonight, but this must be confirmed. The Minister of State is in Cork today on business at University College Cork.

I will be very happy to have the debate requested by Senator Horkan on the future of Europe. We had a very good debate last week-----