Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:

Senator Mark Duffy - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to amend section 161 of the Local Government Act 2001 to remove the salary-based restriction that prevents full-time firefighters from serving as local councillors.

Senator Joanne Collins - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on housing and services needs in County Limerick towns.

Senator Joe Conway - The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to make a statement on Ireland's decision to sign up to the Security Action for Europe, SAFE, regulation.

Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the national medical laboratory information system amid concerns over delayed diagnostics with regard to cancer and blood tests.

Senator Sharon Keogan - The need for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to make a statement on the Government's planned response to the European Commission's call for Ireland to comply with provisions of the Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating racism and xenophobia.

Senator Mary Fitzpatrick - The need for the Minister for Finance to make a statement on his plans to legislate to give local authorities greater revenue raising powers, including his response to the proposal from Dublin City Council for the introduction of a tourist bed tax.

Senator Chris Andrews - The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make a statement on the implementation of the recent XL bully legislation.

The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Mark Duffy, Joanne Collins, Joe Conway and Robbie Gallagher and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O’Sullivan to the House.