Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not quite understand Senator Murnane O'Connor's contribution on Sláintecare. Is she against or for the new hospitals? It is a €5.8 billion proposal from the Government under Sláintecare that is delivering a new health and social care model for the treatment of patients, focusing on the importance of primary care, with additional beds being provided. I would be happy to have the Minister for Health come to the House to discuss the matter in due course.

I share with Senator Ned O'Sullivan our utter condemnation of the attacks in the Middle East last weekend.It is important to put on record and reflect upon our relationship, individually and collectively, with the Middle East. Some of the language being used by the President of the US does not help the situation. We need to see peace built in the Middle East. Watching the CNN documentary on Jimmy Carter, the longest-living former President of the US, and his Camp David agreement, I was conscious of the way in which he tried to bring peace to the Middle East. I hope that the current American Administration will try to do something similar. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has been working on this issue. I wish him well. The points made by the Senator are worth noting. I would be happy to invite the Tánaiste to attend the House regarding the matter.

In the context of today's European Parliament vote, we should pay tribute to the former Senator, Feargal Quinn. Members of the European Parliament have also been involved and the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has been strong in this regard. It was right to remember our former colleague, Feargal Quinn, and commend him on his role in the context of today's decision.

I join Senator Colm Burke in welcoming the decision by the manufacturer of Spinraza to provide more information to the health committee. It is an important drug that requires greater debate.

Senators Feighan and Mark Daly referred to the Commonwealth. I am unsure as to whether we will have a debate on that matter in the short term, but we might have a debate on foreign affairs with the Tánaiste. It is important to recognise that he will be before the House tomorrow to discuss specific matters relating to the North.

Regarding the corporate manslaughter legislation that Senator Mark Daly is championing, I do not have an answer as to why the officials will not meet him. That is beyond my jurisdiction.