Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Reilly raised the issue of Balbriggan and the Our Balbriggan project. I join with him in wishing them well in the report. I hope the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will come to the House to speak on that issue. Senator Reilly has been a champion of Balbriggan in this House and in the other House for a long time.

I congratulate Senator Lombard on his briefing yesterday. He is right and I would be happy to facilitate a debate in the House on dyslexia to raise awareness and support future training, but mainly to present information to people. This is dyslexia awareness week, and as Senator Lombard rightly said, one in ten people are affected by it. It is a condition whereby, with support and services, people can play a full and positive role in society. Mr. Richard Branson is one example of that.

Senator Davitt raised the issue of coursing and the netting of hares. The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Madigan, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Doyle, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, have been in negotiations and engagements with many members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party on that issue and I hear what the Senator is saying. The matter is being addressed. A process has been established between the Departments. To be fair to the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Doyle, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, they have been strong in their desire to have a resolution to the matter. There is ongoing engagement, and as the Cathaoirleach knows quite well, this week we will have the semi-finals of the Irish Laurels in Cork, which is the second premier greyhound racing event in the year. I would hope people will support the greyhound track in Cork for the Laurels and into the future. It is a wonderful sweepstake and I hope that on 12 and 19 October, which are the dates for the semi-finals and the finals, people will support the Irish Laurels in Cork.

Senator Devine made reference to the issue of mental health. As she knows, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Daly, has been committed to this matter as the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people. We have seen an increase in the budget for mental health and the National Office for Suicide Prevention has been created. There is a need to recognise that in the budget, funding will increase to €1.03 billion, which will include €13 million to open the forensic hospital in Portrane for example. The points the Senator makes are well made. We must take mental health away from being the Cinderella part of the health service and make it more mainstream in its supports and the way we talk about it. I would be happy to support the Senator in that regard.

On the Cathaoirleach's commentary on the Commencement matters, I want to say that it is disappointing if Members put down a Commencement matter, only to discover a Minister is not available. I would be happy to discuss this matter with the Cathaoirleach or with members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of Seanad Éireann to see how we can make Commencement matters more user-friendly and productive for Members of this House.