Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator McFadden has been a champion in the House and an advocate in that regard. Senator Colm Burke was present. It is important that the acts of valour Senator Craughwell raised are taken seriously. The appropriateness of that should be addressed with the Minister of State with responsibility for defence, Deputy Kehoe. We will have that debate either by way of a Commencement matter or otherwise in the House. Perhaps Senator Craughwell and I can speak about how to progress that.

Senator Colm Burke referred to the primary care facility which was opened in Cork last week. It is a fantastic, state-of-the-art, model facility which the Senator was right to praise. I commend the Senator and others on their work to ensure the facility was established. I pay tribute to and thank Tony McNamara who has intimated his intention to retire from public service as CEO of Cork University Hospital. I thank him for his 27 plus years of service to the health service and wish him well in his new career. Senator Burke raised the very interesting judgment of Mr. Justice Cross in the Morrissey case and the questions he posed on future screening. It is a matter on which we need to have a debate and conversation. Health and medicine are not exact sciences and it is right to raise the issue.

Senator Ó Ríordáin referred also to dedicated transport policing. Senators Horkan and Conway-Walsh referred to insurance and the need to have the Minister come to the House to discuss it. I would be happy to have those debates in the House in due course.

Senator Mulherin referred to the impending strike by community employment supervisors. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, has been in discussions with community employment supervisors' representatives. Those involved held a protest outside Leinster House before the Easter recess and it is a matter we need to see resolved. We all recognise the importance and benefits of community employment schemes for local communities and I would be happy to have a debate on the matter.

I overlooked Senator Mullen's tribute to Jean Vanier for his huge work to give people with intellectual disability hope, home and life and joy. I join the Senator in expressing gratitude for Mr. Vanier's well-lived life.

Senator Gavan referred to a lady in Limerick. I do not have the information to which he referred but my comment is simple. Any person of that age should not have to spend four or 48 hours on a trolley, let alone four days. It is an issue to which the Senator continually refers. As he knows, the Government is committed to addressing the issue in University Hospital Limerick and we have seen a new build sanctioned and commenced. I hope the matter can be addressed urgently.

I commend Senator Bacik on attending the conference she referred to. I do not have the answer on the Land Development Agency which Senator Boyhan sought but I will take the matter up with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy.

I welcome the members of the campaign to save Fermoy weir who are in the Public Gallery with Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe. They appeared before the Committee on Public Petitions today and I hope they had a very good hearing there.I hope Senator Ó Ríordáin understands I cannot accept his proposed amendment to the Order of Business because the logistics do not make it possible. If the House agrees, the business tomorrow will be the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017.