Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----to the ongoing dispute between SIPTU and National Ambulance Service Representative Association, NASRA. Let us have union representation for members of the ambulance service who want to join NASRA. Let them have membership of that union so that there can be dealings with both unions. I do not see any issue with that. I support the need for members to be involved and to have participation in a union. It is equally incumbent on the HSE to engage with NASRA and end this back-and-forth for once and for all.

Senator Bacik raised the issue of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017. I apologise to the House that it may be discommoded on Thursday. It is a matter for the House to decide its business, as Senator Boyhan would say if he were here. When the Minister becomes available, we will schedule this Bill. The information came to us on Friday. I put this Bill on the schedule, and it is up to Members to accept the Order of Business or not. I appreciate that there are people who have a view on this Bill.

The Judicial Council Bill is a priority for the Minister. It has taken a length of time to get to where we are today. In that time a great amount of engagement has been ongoing between the Judiciary, with regard to proposed amendments to legislation, with the Office of the Attorney General, and with the Department of Justice and Equality, which has resulted in the Bill coming back to us today with a number of amendments to it. It is also important that we recognise that it is legislation the Government wants to prioritise. Many of the amendments relate to the provision of sentencing guidelines, the need for which was referenced in the Second Stage debate here in the Seanad.

It is my intention as Leader of the House to have the Bill come before the House today and, if it is not finished tonight, to have it back next week and to devote as much time as we can to it on behalf of the Government. I would be happy to work with the Senator in this regard. I understand the frustration that Members have on Bills not coming back. Sometimes some of the Bills - I am not saying this one - are unconstitutional or flawed and need to be fixed, but I take the point the Senator has made.

Today it is a significant day to remember and recognise Countess Markievicz and we congratulate all women who serve in the Oireachtas and as Ministers. Senator Bacik is correct in that there are far too many women who have been appointed as Cabinet Ministers-----