Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Those on the Fianna Fáil benches still do not know on what they abstained or what they stand for, but, in fairness, we had a good debate in the House. The CETA is already a success, despite the misplaced concerns of others who should perhaps know better.Senators Clifford-Lee, Humphreys, Reilly, Coghlan and Paddy Burke all referred to the issue of transport. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss the issue and will come back to the issues that individuals have raised.

Senator Humphreys should recognise that under regulation 12 of the Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011, a household that refuses two reasonable offers of tenancy in any 12 month period other than an offer in the choice-based letting procedure will not receive any further offers from any housing authority for a period of one year from the second refusal. That is already in situ. We need to get some perspective on the issue of housing. People refuse housing for a variety of issues. Some are serial refusers. Others have particular reasons and we accept that, but we must try to get a balance.

Senator Gallagher raised the issue of food supplements. It is an interpretation of the tax code by Revenue which is independent of Government. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has a tax advisory group. As I said in the House last week, some people are peddling a specific line but should also recognise that certain medicines, folic acids, vitamins and mineral products, as licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority, are still zero and will remain at that. We should have balance in what we say about the matter here. I hope that we can have common sense with regard to some of the issues addressed by Senator Gallagher.

Senator Ó Céidigh will be the author of a very fine report regarding small and medium enterprises. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, coming from the Border, is well aware of the complexities and importance of small and medium enterprises. I would be happy to have her to come to the House to address the matter.

Senators Richmond and Horkan raised the issue of passports and the need for debate on the passport system, which I would be happy to have.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan raised the issue of the Fórsa campaign to support school secretaries. It is an important issue which requires clarity and parity. We would all support it.

Senator McFadden raised the ONE campaign. To be fair to the Senator, she has raised the matter on many occasions, both in and outside this House. There is an issue relating to bed nights. We need to compliment ONE which has provided 44 bed nights, which I think the Senator said has covered 900 veterans and includes approximately 16,000 bed nights per annum. It is important that we support it and that we work to ensure that visibility and recognition is given to our veterans. To be fair to the Senator, she has raised this in the past.

Senator Norris raised the issue of the inquiry into Shane O'Farrell's death. We want the O'Farrell family to have full information, there has to be due process, and there has to be full accountability for those involved. On completion of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission inquiry, the Minister appointed Mr. Justice Haughton to carry out a scoping exercise. From any point of view, that should be able to continue and to carry out its work rather than having a debate on that. I am cognisant of the involvement of Senator Norris and do not want to be seen as offensive or unhelpful to the O'Farrell family and the need for full action. I know the Minister is not available today and he is certainly not available tomorrow, because if he was, he would be having more debate on the very important Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, about which I will speak to Senator Craughwell. I am prepared to offer Senator Norris a debate on the matter tomorrow afternoon without the Minister being present, if the Senator is amenable to that. I do not want to be unhelpful and do not want to be seen to be obstructionist. That is not my style. A scoping inquiry has been put in place. A process has been established. I do not think that we should have debates in the House in parallel with that. If Senator Norris is amenable to having a debate for an hour tomorrow without the Minister, I would be happy to do that, but otherwise I do not think that I can ask the Minister to come to the House at such short notice, knowing that he is not available today or tomorrow.