Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on social protection, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 2.15 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 2 p.m.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Bruton, in regard to the partial loan guarantee scheme to the SME sector. It had been announced four times already but I am glad it is now in place. Any additional credit that can go to our SMEs is crucial. I would add one caveat in that the Government needs to watch very carefully what the banks do with this. While it has been announced today and is up and running, I would consider it appropriate that, before the end of the year, we would look at how it is being rolled out and what real effect it is having on businesses. I ask the Leader to consider this.

We need an urgent debate on home-care packages. I have been listening over the past couple of days to Government Senators and Deputies wringing their hands and saying it is terrible that the HSE is cutting ¤8 million between now and Christmas, which is equivalent to approximately 400,000 to 450,000 hours of home care. I remind Members on the Government side that this is on top of 500,000 hours that have already been cut. I listened with great interest to a colleague, Senator John Whelan, last night railing against the HSE, saying this is awful and asking how the HSE and the Department of Health can do this. I remind Government Members that Mr. Ambrose McLoughlin was appointed Secretary General of the Department of Health by the Minister, Deputy Reilly, in April with no public notification of that job. He is the chairman of the HSE. Furthermore, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, hand-picked the successor to Mr. Cathal Magee who, as we all remember, was effectively driven out by the Minister, Deputy Reilly. His successor, Mr. Tony O'Brien-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator should refrain from mentioning the names of public officials on the record.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure whether there is a problem in mentioning the Secretary General of the Department of Health, who is Mr. Ambrose McLoughlin, and-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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As you know, officials are not Members of the House and cannot come in to defend themselves.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I am going to defend them now.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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It does not matter whether you are speaking-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I am defending them against the Government using them as a shield. Let us be straight on this. We tabled amendments to the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 that proposed a new director general would be subject to the public appointments Act but the Government rejected that.

The Minister hand-picked these two individuals. I listened to Government Deputies and Senators yesterday telling people they support the carers, that they are with the carers and that they want the HSE to reverse the cut.

I will give a little tip to Senator Whelan and the others who are concerned about the issue. They should talk to the Minister for Health because he controls the HSE.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Hear, hear.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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The buck stops with him. One cannot get away from that. The one solution is to reverse the cut. I do not think any of us, or any Member on the Government side, wants to see cuts that affect carers or people who are badly incapacitated, such as the people yesterday who made a great effort to come to protest outside Leinster House. The cut is being made for the sake of ¤8 million. If the Government wants to do that then members of Government parties should take responsibility for doing it. They should not blame Tony O?Brien and Ambrose McLoughlin for the cut. The Minister decided on the cut. Fine Gael and the Labour Party decided on the cut. A total of 950,000 home-care hours have been taken out of the system. I will table an amendment to the Order of Business this morning that the Minister for Health-----

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Very good.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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-----or one of his Ministers of State ? I believe he is talking to both of them at the moment, which is good ? would come to the House today to tell us what is Government policy on home-care hours. Page 38 of the programme for Government states that not only would the Government retain existing home-care packages but it would increase them. The programme for Government was signed up to by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Members of those parties should not come to the House crying crocodile tears and tell us that they are railing against the HSE because they are an awful bunch of people who have taken 450,000 home-care hours. I want the Minister to come to the House today. There is ample time. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, would come to this House and explain to us whether it is Government policy to cut home-care hours and, furthermore, to ask him to reverse the cut. He has not been too quick to cut consultants? pay.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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That is very populist.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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He will not touch the people at the higher end of the scale in the health service, for whom he advocated long enough in his private capacity.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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That is not true.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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He will not touch them but he will cut people who earn less than ¤10 an hour.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator O?Brien is way over time. I call Senator Bacik.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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That is not true.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps when Senator Bacik gets to her feet she will tell me if it is Labour Party policy to cut home-care hours and whether she, as the leader of the Labour Party group-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator O?Brien is way over time.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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-----in the Seanad has asked the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to reverse the cuts to home-care hours.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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One should call it as it is.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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We have listened to the lecture.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator O?Brien. I call Senator Bacik.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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A total of 950,000 hours have been cut this year alone. It is an absolute disgrace.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I finally get a chance to say that the Leader will respond to Senator O?Brien?s request for an amendment to the Order of Business. I have spoken on health in this House many times. The Government is the first to adopt a radical policy of health care reform. It is the first Government to take on consultants. Let us not forget who negotiated the sweetheart deal with the consultants. That was the then Minister, Mary Harney.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Blaming Fianna Fáil is losing the Labour Party votes.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It was a Fianna Fáil-led Government that negotiated the rates of pay for consultants.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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What about the commitments in the programme for Government?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik should deal with home-care hours.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Bacik should be allowed to speak without interruption.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I welcome the fact that we will have a debate next week with the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs given today?s critical meeting in Europe on EU bank debt at which both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will be present. Moves are being made by other countries to seek to make an EU bank debt deal prospective, which would be bad for this country. We must all wish the Government well in seeking to ensure that the commitments made to this country previously are honoured and that a bank debt deal will emerge that will apply retrospectively to countries carrying a legacy of banking debt, thanks to previous Governments such as in this country. It is very important for the recovery of the economy that the deal would apply retrospectively also, as we have been promised.

I also welcome the partial loan guarantee scheme to the SME sector which Senator O?Brien mentioned. There was a sad report this week about O?Brien?s Chophouse in Lismore, a small restaurant which I had the pleasure of visiting many times, which has been forced to close because of a lack of customers during the bad summer. It is a symbol of the difficulties many small businesses face, in particular outside of big urban centres, especially in the Slow Food movement, an award winning sector in which we have seen an increase in the number of restaurants and small food businesses offering high quality food. It is a shame that it has had to close. Any supports to SMEs are very important in this climate so I heartily welcome the partial loan guarantee scheme.

I call for a debate on sentencing and the need for sentencing guidelines in light of reports this morning about a disturbing sentence handed down in a rape case. It is another example of the need for sentencing guidelines which have been sought for a long time. The Minister, Deputy Shatter, is conducting an overall review of the criminal justice system and the penal system. I am sure he will examine the matter in that context but, first, what we need is data on sentencing. We do not yet have proper, consistent data on sentencing, which is very important.

Colleagues this week criticised the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Rightly so.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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-----and its decision to offer services within the law to women in Northern Ireland seeking to terminate pregnancies. That clinic has stated clearly that it will operate within the law. Northern Irish law is different to the law in the Republic. It does allow abortion on various grounds, albeit still limited grounds. At least the Marie Stopes clinic is accepting the reality that faces many thousands of Irish women. Let us not forget that 4,000 Irish women a year still travel to England to avail of abortion or termination of pregnancy services there. As we heard in this House, some of those women faced dreadfully sad cases of fatal foetal abnormality and yet we have no compassion for those women in terms of being able to offer them the sort of treatment they wish to receive in this country.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Bacik does not want to address home-care packages.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will at a different time.

David Norris (Independent)
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I find this inter-party bickering immensely depressing. In this difficult period we should be putting the interests and welfare of citizens first, not any kind of party advantage. I hope we will join together to try to help people. I accept things are difficult and tight and the Government is in a difficult position. I have attended numerous briefings in recent days and what impressed me ? I hope somebody will be appointed from Government to look at this ? was that so many of the organisations have produced either budget?neutral proposals or ones that will save the Exchequer money. There is a kind of bureaucratic hold-up in implementing such measures. We must examine them. If we can help people in a situation where it does not cost the Exchequer much money we must grab those opportunities with both hands.

Yesterday, I attended the Family Support Network in which wonderful people are involved. Some of them are neighbours of mine from the north inner city. I stood with the late Deputy Tony Gregory ? I was in this House and he was in the Dáil. He was the person who introduced the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, which generated a lot of money from the drugs industry through the operations of the Garda and social services. I wanted the money to go back into the areas affected by drugs.

The budget of the Family Support Network is ¤375,000. The organisation helps the Exchequer. It saves money and it does immensely good work. Will the Leader please ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, to meet with the head of the organisation, Ms Sadie Grace? It is important that we would have this kind of communication. I accept there is a lot of pressure but such a meeting would be useful. The kind of thing that is happening is that grandparents who intervene in a situation where there is a substance-abusing mother are cut off from access to State funds because the State then says that there is no crisis anymore. That is shocking. It is Kafkaesque. It is absolute nonsense. They should be supported as they are saving the State money. At a time in their lives when they could expect to be able to rest they have to look after their damaged child and their damaged grandchildren. Again, if the mother is allowed to visit, that is held against them, but it is socially good to maintain that contact and it can only be done with the assistance of the grandparents.

Yesterday we had another wonderful briefing about bullying. A woman from Erris in County Mayo told us about the programme in schools there. We also heard from a man from County Meath, the headmaster of a school who had instituted a programme. Again, if slight adjustments were made with the support of guidance counsellors it would make an immense difference. The measures outlined were either budget-neutral or will save money down the line.

In the context of home care, we will have protesters outside at lunch time. I am sure many of us will go out and meet them. Again, for bureaucratic reasons a situation arises whereby the providers of home-care packages will be moved.

I will give a little tip to Senator Whelan and the others who are concerned about the issue. They should talk to the Minister for Health because he controls the HSE.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Hear, hear.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The buck stops with him. One cannot get away from that. The one solution is to reverse the cut. I do not think any of us, or any Member on the Government side, wants to see cuts that affect carers or people who are badly incapacitated, such as the people yesterday who made a great effort to come to protest outside Leinster House. The cut is being made for the sake of ¤8 million. If the Government wants to do that then members of Government parties should take responsibility for doing it. They should not blame Tony O?Brien and Ambrose McLoughlin for the cut. The Minister decided on the cut. Fine Gael and the Labour Party decided on the cut. A total of 950,000 home-care hours have been taken out of the system. I will table an amendment to the Order of Business this morning that the Minister for Health-----

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Very good.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----or one of his Ministers of State ? I believe he is talking to both of them at the moment, which is good ? would come to the House today to tell us what is Government policy on home-care hours. Page 38 of the programme for Government states that not only would the Government retain existing home-care packages but it would increase them. The programme for Government was signed up to by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Members of those parties should not come to the House crying crocodile tears and tell us that they are railing against the HSE because they are an awful bunch of people who have taken 450,000 home-care hours. I want the Minister to come to the House today. There is ample time. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, would come to this House and explain to us whether it is Government policy to cut home-care hours and, furthermore, to ask him to reverse the cut. He has not been too quick to cut consultants? pay.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is very populist.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He will not touch the people at the higher end of the scale in the health service, for whom he advocated long enough in his private capacity.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is not true.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He will not touch them but he will cut people who earn less than ¤10 an hour.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator O?Brien is way over time. I call Senator Bacik.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is not true.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Perhaps when Senator Bacik gets to her feet she will tell me if it is Labour Party policy to cut home-care hours and whether she, as the leader of the Labour Party group-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator O?Brien is way over time.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----in the Seanad has asked the Minister, Deputy Reilly, to reverse the cuts to home-care hours.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

One should call it as it is.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have listened to the lecture.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator O?Brien. I call Senator Bacik.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A total of 950,000 hours have been cut this year alone. It is an absolute disgrace.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I finally get a chance to say that the Leader will respond to Senator O?Brien?s request for an amendment to the Order of Business. I have spoken on health in this House many times. The Government is the first to adopt a radical policy of health care reform. It is the first Government to take on consultants. Let us not forget who negotiated the sweetheart deal with the consultants. That was the then Minister, Mary Harney.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Blaming Fianna Fáil is losing the Labour Party votes.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It was a Fianna Fáil-led Government that negotiated the rates of pay for consultants.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What about the commitments in the programme for Government?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik should deal with home-care hours.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik should be allowed to speak without interruption.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that we will have a debate next week with the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs given today?s critical meeting in Europe on EU bank debt at which both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will be present. Moves are being made by other countries to seek to make an EU bank debt deal prospective, which would be bad for this country. We must all wish the Government well in seeking to ensure that the commitments made to this country previously are honoured and that a bank debt deal will emerge that will apply retrospectively to countries carrying a legacy of banking debt, thanks to previous governments, such as in this country. It is very important for the recovery of the economy that the deal would apply retrospectively also, as we have been promised.

I also welcome the partial loan guarantee scheme to the SME sector which Senator O?Brien mentioned. There was a sad report this week about O?Brien?s Chop House in Lismore, a small restaurant which I had the pleasure of visiting many times, which has been forced to close because of a lack of customers during the bad summer. It is a symbol of the difficulties many small businesses face, in particular outside of big urban centres, especially in the Slow Food movement, an award winning sector in which we have seen an increase in the number of restaurants and small food businesses offering high quality food. It is a shame that it has had to close. Any supports to SMEs are very important in this climate so I heartily welcome the partial loan guarantee scheme.

I call for a debate on sentencing and the need for sentencing guidelines in light of reports this morning about a disturbing sentence handed down in a rape case. It is another example of the need for sentencing guidelines which have been sought for a long time. The Minister, Deputy Shatter, is conducting an overall review of the criminal justice system and the penal system. I am sure he will examine the matter in that context but, first, what we need is data on sentencing. We do not yet have proper, consistent data on sentencing, which is very important.

Colleagues this week criticised the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Rightly so.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and its decision to offer services within the law to women in Northern Ireland seeking to terminate pregnancies. That clinic has stated clearly that it will operate within the law. Northern Irish law is different to the law in the Republic. It does allow abortion on various grounds, albeit still limited grounds. At least the Marie Stopes clinic is accepting the reality that faces many thousands of Irish women. Let us not forget that 4,000 Irish women a year still travel to England to avail of abortion or termination of pregnancy services there. As we heard in this House, some of those women faced dreadfully sad cases of fatal foetal abnormality and yet we have no compassion for those women in terms of being able to offer them the sort of treatment they wish to receive in this country.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik does not want to address home-care packages.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will at a different time.

David Norris (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I find this inter-party bickering immensely depressing. In this difficult period we should be putting the interests and welfare of citizens first, not any kind of party advantage. I hope we will join together to try to help people. I accept things are difficult and tight and the Government is in a difficult position. I have attended numerous briefings in recent days and what impressed me ? I hope somebody will be appointed from Government to look at this ? was that so many of the organisations have produced either budget?neutral proposals or ones that will save the Exchequer money. There is a kind of bureaucratic hold-up in implementing such measures. We must examine them. If we can help people in a situation where it does not cost the Exchequer much money we must grab those opportunities with both hands.

Yesterday, I attended the Family Support Network in which wonderful people are involved. Some of them are neighbours of mine from the north inner city. I stood with the late Deputy Tony Gregory ? I was in this House and he was in the Dáil. He was the person who introduced the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, which generated a lot of money from the drugs industry through the operations of the Garda and social services. I wanted the money to go back into the areas affected by drugs.

We need to look at this. As my colleagues know, I have often raised circumstances in which inappropriate agency staff were used, people who did not even speak English, who did not know anything about drug regimes, who were sometimes drunk.

I have a direct and very specific question. Motion 9, proposed by two Independent colleagues and myself, condemns sexual violence in conflict, affirms Ireland's commitment to the UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security and to playing a role in efforts to end sexual violence, and supports the efforts of organisations to draw attention to and denounce sexual violence. So far, two colleagues have signed the motion. I am sure all will because it is non-contentious and has been passed by other countries. I am sure colleagues in all parties would wish to support this.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Senator is over time.

David Norris (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Leader consider bringing this proposal before the House? I would be very happy if it were to become a Government motion. I have no amour propre concerning the ownership of the motion. It would be very well-timed, would be good for our reputation internationally and would commit us to the cause of ending sexual violence against women.

Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
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A very important conference is taking place in Dublin this week, the web summit, the largest tech conference in Europe. It underlines the credibility of Ireland as an IT sector given the many employers we have in this area. More than 200 CEOs from various companies are speaking at the conference. These include multi-million businesses, Twitter and Skype, as well as start-up entrepreneurs and everything in between. It is a very important conference.

What has emerged in the commentary is the need to institute a technology visa, a concept I support because it is very important. We currently have approximately 4,000 to 5,000 vacancies in the IT sector because we do not have the graduates or capacity to fill them on our own. This is a worldwide issue. As a method of ensuring that Irish employers find employees with software capabilities, a technology visa would be a way of attracting such people to Ireland. It is not about displacing jobs but about ensuring we can fill these positions and maintain jobs in our own communities. It is a very important issue and has been raised time and again in such discussions. Will the Leader bring the issue of a technology visa to the attention of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, and ask that it be advanced in the interest of underpinning our strong performance in the technology area?

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment proposed by Senator O'Brien who raised a very serious issue in regard to health. No answer has been given by the Government in spite of the hand-wringing on television and radio Senator O'Brien referred to, on the part of the Labour Party in particular.

A very serious matter arises in Brussels, not only for the Taoiseach but for the entire country. Last June the Taoiseach referred to a "seismic change" in European policy. The Tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Gilmore, referred to a "game changer" for the country. We were led to believe that the deal on Spanish debt would change things forever for Ireland. There was peace in our time, such as Mr. Chamberlain brought from Munich. That is not the first time this happened. About a year ago, we heard from a 4 a.m. press conference in Brussels that the burden on the Irish people had been lifted. Unfortunately, nothing has happened. People do not mind if there is honest effort or if the Taoiseach is in Brussels doing his best. Everybody knows he is not personally responsible for the situation. What people do mind is having their expectations lifted but not delivered, and promises and statements made that are not accurate. For the Taoiseach it is a question of how much of the burden on our people would be lifted, not that it would be lifted.

Today the Taoiseach is again in Brussels. As I understand it, all he is looking for is a restatement of what was said in June. There has been a considerable lack of action by the Government in the intervening period. Momentum seems to have been lost. We are watching and waiting and it is not good enough. There has been tough talk at home, both in this Parliament and throughout the country, but the tough talk needs to take place in Brussels. Given the Taoiseach is there, we need to have a debate in this House to examine what is going on at European level, what the Government is doing in regard to the burden of bank debt, why the Taoiseach's statements of summer and October 2011 and last June, are not being implemented, what caused the Taoiseach to make those statements, what exactly is happening and what he is looking for now. What will be the end result for the people?

Aideen Hayden (Labour)
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I bring to the attention of colleagues that there is a general strike in Greece today, the second such strike within a month. It follows hundreds of other often violent strikes that have taken place in Greece in the face of the austerity measures in that country. In Irish media in the recent past there has been nothing short of vilification of public servants in this country and a failure to understand the significant sacrifices our public servants have made since the start of this crisis.

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, to give us the good news of the achievements made under the Croke Park agreement? He could bring to light the fact that in this country we have not had unrest of the kind that has happened in Greece. We have a very responsible public sector in this country which has taken significant hits, and not just to overall salaries - the Exchequer pay bill has been reduced by 17.7%, with ¤3.1 billion saved by the end of 2012. In addition, our public servants are now facing considerable demands on their services. Without a shadow of doubt, they are delivering more with less. For example, 500,000 additional medical cards have been issued and even with increasing student numbers we have introduced a single grant scheme. We now have annual leave standardised and improved rostering in An Garda Síochána. There have been significant achievements under the Croke Park agreement. It is time to sit down and look seriously at those achievements without the type of nonsense that is spoken about our public servants.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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Some time after the Houses rose in July, CIE was found to be ¤36 million short of meeting its expenditure targets for this year which has resulted in the loss of rural bus services in places in Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and elsewhere. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, to come to the House to discuss other ways in which those bus services might be retained in rural communities?

Next week marks the 61st anniversary of the Wexford Opera Festival. Founded during the recessionary 1950s, it has become a massive international event and is of enormous value in terms of both culture and tourism. The House should extend good wishes to the festival,-----

Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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-----the fruit of a recession during the 1950s, which is going so strongly today.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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Home care is an extremely important issue, one where there is need for long-term planning. That has been lacking in health care throughout the past 15 years. Let us take nursing homes, for example. Under the former Taoiseach's jurisdiction there was a massive failure and as a result ¤485 million had to be refunded to people. It is a pity that sum is not available now because it would pay for many home-care packages.

In fairness to the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, he is dealing with the issues and doing long-term planning. Take the drug scheme, for example, which I mentioned earlier this week, whereby we will save ¤400 million in the coming three years. Yesterday health insurers agreed to pay out ¤125 million in advance. It is about budgeting and ensuring we use the moneys we have effectively. The Government intends to ensure that the number of people who can avail of home-care packages will grow rather than decrease. We must deal with existing budgetary constraints but the plan is to grow the number of available packages so that the maximum number of people can remain in their homes rather than be referred to nursing homes. The Minister will be doing that during the coming three years. It is about the long-term planning that had not been in place. That will happen in the lifetime of this Government.

Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, will come to the House this afternoon to discuss a broad range of issues related to her portfolio. No further business has been ordered for today. When I asked the Leader to arrange a debate on youth employment, I was advised to use the opportunity of today's meeting with the Minister to discuss the issue. Given that no other business has been scheduled, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to extend today's business and have a specific debate on youth unemployment with the Minister for Social Protection. I am concerned this issue would get lost if it was included in this afternoon's wide-ranging debate as Senators wish to raise a large number of pressing issues related to the Minister's portfolio. I mentioned youth unemployment, an increasingly important issue, to members of the troika yesterday.

I support the amendment proposed by Fianna Fáil to have representatives of the Department of Health before the House for a discussion on home help hours and home-care packages. Last night the Government defeated by 78 votes to 49 a Dáil motion tabled by my party seeking to reverse ¤8 million in cuts to home help services and ¤1.7 million in cuts to home care packages. Senators must have an opportunity to express their opinions on the removal of almost 500,000 home help hours and indicate whether they support the cuts or would vote to have them reversed.

Will the Leader arrange to have the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, come to the House to discuss the Moore Street campaign? An important documentary broadcast last night showed that Dublin City Council and a slew of developers had been engaging in smoke and mirrors tactics about this development. The Minister should outline to the House the current status of the national monument on Moore Street.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is the Senator proposing an amendment to the Order of Business?

Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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Yes.

John Kelly (Labour)
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Yesterday Senator Michael D'Arcy referred to the answers Senators received when they raised matters on the Adjournment. Yesterday evening I received a written reply to a health related matter I had raised. I guarantee that Senators who were not present for last night's debate would be unable to work out what the motion was about if they read the reply. Worse still, an official from the Department of Health telephoned me before the discussion requesting that I be specific about the matter I had raised. I referred to two specific issues related to the manner in which guidelines for medical cards were being interpreted by the primary care reimbursement service. Neither of the issues I raised was referred to in the reply. I call on the Leader to arrange a meeting of the Whips on the issue. It is nonsensical and a waste of time for Senators to receive answers of this nature when they raise specific matters on the Adjournment.

I have made a proposal to the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, on the proposed cuts to home care services. If he wants to reduce funding for home help services by ¤8 million and cut home help hours by 600,000, he should open up the service to community employment schemes. Home helps are ordinary people, as are those experiencing long-term unemployment. One could create 30,000 jobs and provide 600,000 home help hours for ¤750,000. Under my proposal, the Minister would save ¤8 million without reducing home help hours. I call on the Leader to bring this proposal to the attention of the Minister and ask him to give it serious consideration.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I have referred to the Personal Insolvency Bill on a regular basis since the recess. It will be one of the most important Bills to come before the House. More than one in five mortgages are in distress. I am disturbed that the Government is not providing information on how the Bill was designed. Following the publication of the draft heads in January, Simon Carswell of The Irish Times submitted a freedom of information request seeking information on the legislation. When it was refused, he subsequently submitted a new request. Of 63 records in a schedule, the Department refused to release 52 and only two records were released in full and without redaction. According to Mr. Carswell's report, the records that were not released included ten relating to contacts with the Department by the Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks, Ulster Bank, KBC Bank, Start Mortgages and GE Money, while a further five related to contacts made by the banks' representative body, the Irish Banking Federation. The lobbying campaign by the banks has been intense since the publication of the Bill. We know they sought to have the cap on mortgage debt that may be eligible for write-downs under the Bill lowered. More than a dozen records of meetings were also refused, including those with the Department and correspondence between the Departments of Finance and Justice and Equality and the Central Bank.

There is no doubt that members of the public would benefit from transparency on the Personal Insolvency Bill. If implemented properly and without unreasonable banking interference or the exercise of a veto by the banks, the legislation could mark a significant step forward in resolving the current crisis. Some of the Senators opposite who danced up and down when amendments were made to the Freedom of Information Act by a previous Government have embraced one of the most secretive Governments I have seen in my time. Having listened to the contributions of Senators Michael D'Arcy and John Kelly, I ask that more Senators speak their minds about what is wrong with the current Administration in order that the problems can be corrected.

Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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I am disappointed by yesterday's announcement of 180 job losses in Abbott Nutrition in Sligo. Our thoughts must be with those who will lose their jobs. The announcement was made on the back of good news for the town, including the decision to retain 120 jobs at Stiefel Laboratories. We must ensure employment becomes available to those who will be made redundant. I call on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to ensure everything possible is done by IDA Ireland in Sligo and other relevant organisations to ensure those who lose their jobs in the town are redeployed. I note the redundancies will be voluntary and introduced on a phased basis. We cannot stand over job losses of this nature.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I support Senator Jim Walsh's call for openness and transparency in the drafting of the Personal Insolvency Bill. As I indicated earlier in the week, if the banks drafted legislation on this issue, one would probably not be able to tell the difference between it and the Personal Insolvency Bill. The Government is duty-bound to find out-----

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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The Senator should speak directly to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Bruton, about the issue.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Please allow Senator Mark Daly to continue, without interruption.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I hope the Minister will be able to provide all correspondence and the minutes of all meetings concerning the Bill. It is unacceptable that the banks are lobbying to ensure the legislation is designed to suit their interests. More important, what changes are they seeking and what changes are being made?

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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What about the bank guarantee given to the banks? The previous Government misled the country.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We will not have interruptions.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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It told us the issue was one of bank liquidity rather than insolvency.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator must respect the Chair.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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The Fine Gael Party voted for the bank guarantee.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I look forward to Senator Fidelma Healy Eames informing the House what she has learned from the Government about lobbying by the banks to have the Bill suit their interests. If the legislation suits the banks, it will not suit citizens or those who owe money to the banks. One in five mortgages is in distress and a new group of vulnerable people, namely, the middle class, has emerged. The Minister for Social Protection has made a bizarre call on the banks to offer reasonable mechanisms and help their fellow citizens. The banks will only help themselves. Their directors will do nothing other than make profit in order that they can pay themselves large salaries and bonuses. Calling on the banks to do anything other than make a profit is nothing short of living in cloud-cuckoo-land.

The only way the Minister can help people is to regulate the banks in terms of dealing with those in distress because of arrears and the new vulnerable, namely, people who are struggling to pay their mortgages. They are still paying their mortgages but as we know from the case of the Garda sergeant who had to seek help from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, they barely have enough money to eat. The Government is calling on the banks to make a decision but it is the Government which must make a decision. It must legislate for the banks to act because they will not do anything other than make profit. Expecting anything else from the banks is not living in the real world. In terms of calling on the banks to do something-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is way over time.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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-----that is someone who believes they are still in opposition and not in government. The Government must do the work.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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It is rather difficult to listen to Senator Daly. This Government inherited an appalling situation but it is making progress on a daily basis in addressing all the critical issues facing the country.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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The Members opposite are in government to do something and not give out about the appalling situation.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Mullins, do you have a question for the Leader?

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I have. There have been many discussions in this House and in the other House on the tens of thousands of Irish people who settled in the United States in past decades who are in employment but remain undocumented, illegal migrants. Many politicians from all parties have travelled to meet politicians in the US and successive US Presidents on this issue but we stand in danger of being accused of hypocrisy if we do not address the problem on our own doorstep of the 30,000 migrant families and their children living undocumented here. Many of those people have been working in well-paid jobs and are paying their taxes. They are deeply rooted in the communities in which they live but they are living under great stress and fear. They are vulnerable to exploitation and excluded from basic services. Like the Irish in America they are cut off from their families. That issue must be addressed.

I ask the Leader to arrange to have a debate in the not too distant future to allow the Minister, Deputy Shatter, come into the House to discuss this issue and how we could introduce an earned regularisation scheme that might work where "illegals" here would earn credits and that over time their position in this country would be regularised. It involves a significant number of people. They are making a contribution to the society and to the community and like the Irish in America it is only fair that they be allowed travel to see their relatives without the fear of being excluded from the country in the future.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith tacú leis an mholadh atá déanta ag an Seanadóir Reilly leasú a dhéanamh ar Riar na hOibre. I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Reilly, to extend the business of the day by an hour to give a specific focus on debating youth unemployment.

I agree with Senator Barrett's comments on the need to examine the issue of rural transport.

The primary issue I raise is about information in a reply to a parliamentary question tabled by my colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, in the Dáil which shows that increased revenue resources could bring in up to ¤100 million. With the information he has received from the Revenue Commissioners through the Department of Finance, an investment of ¤6.5 million in 125 additional trained Revenue staff would generate ¤100 million next year from the targeting of black market activity and increased audit activity. I heard an interview on a radio programme this morning with a former Revenue Commissioners auditor who said that for what would seem to be a relatively good investment of ¤6.5 million, 125 extra jobs would be created but the return to the Exchequer would be up to ¤100 million. It would be an interesting issue to examine. We are often criticised for being negative in this House but we are bringing forward a positive proposal which could be examined.

While the Leader is examining that issue and if he has time over the weekend he might examine the other positive proposals in the Sinn Féin jobs proposals programme. As I said, we are often criticised for not bringing forward positive ideas but there are many positive ideas in this document, which runs to 60 pages. We have talked to many stakeholders on the issue. We will be raising the issues when the Minister, Deputy Bruton, comes into the House to discuss job creation but we are talking about an investment programme of ¤13 billion creating 156,000 jobs and retaining 15,000 jobs. The Leader might read that document in advance of any jobs debate to ensure he is aware of it and we will not have to tell him that we have a jobs programme.

It would be interesting to have a specific debate in the run up to the budget on ways Revenue could bring in more revenue and create jobs at the same time.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I was listening to a radio programme this morning when the issue of sexual violence against women arose. This is an opportune day to put back on the agenda the issue I raised with the Taoiseach when he was in the House with members of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, namely, United Nations Security Resolution 1325. I work with Hanna's House in Dublin on sexual violence against women. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have responded positively to that issue because the Government launched a national action plan on United Nations Security Resolution 1325 but when EU resolutions are passed every EU country must ensure that those resolutions are implemented. The Leader has asked all Members to put various items on the agenda for Private Members' motions. This is one of my pet motions and I hope the Leader will look favourably on it.

I commend Senator Norris on raising the issue earlier, particularly on the day when the man who was charged with a violent sexual assault on a 17 year old woman can avoid a jail sentence if he pays ¤15,000. There are certain things money cannot buy, and sex is one of them. We all know it is called prostitution but I do not see the difference. I want the issue of violence against women to be debated in this House. I raised it with the Taoiseach and, under the auspices of Resolution 1325, with Hanna's House which is supporting this issue and doing great work on it. Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 1670 makes sexual violence against women in armed conflict a war crime. Unfortunately, many war crimes are committed against women. It may not be a bullet that is used but we have seen sexual violence perpetrated against women throughout the world. I want a debate on that issue. I thank Senator Norris for raising it earlier. I want us to ensure that this country takes the issue seriously on a day when a man can pay ¤15,000 to have his sentence suspended while another man was sent to jail for six years for non-payment of garlic import duty. Where are our priorities?

Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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Two years ago we had what I would consider an historic debate in this House on the future of Moore Street in Dublin, which has a strong connection with the 1916 Rising. On that occasion relatives of the seven signatories of the Proclamation were in the Visitors Gallery. They were indicating their support to have Moore Street developed as an historic and tourism attraction. Following on that debate I arranged a meeting with the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach assembled officials from several Departments and also from the cultural institutions. In attendance at that meeting were the Moore Street committee and the relatives of the signatories and it was clear that there was goodwill for the prospect of having this work done in time for the centenary of the Rising in 2016.

Last night I watched a programme on TG4 which made disturbing viewing because one of the road blocks to developing that site, and I know the Minister, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, is committed to it because I walked the site with him, seems to refer to some ownership of that property. That balanced and well-researched programme discovered certain documents which would raise serious questions about the ownership and the way it was transferred from one company to another. That has cast a shadow over Moore Street.

I call on the Leader to ask the Minister to come in and discuss this with us. There is a good deal of disturbance.

I received a letter signed by the relatives of the seven signatories which is in itself a historic letter. Since 1916 they have never connected themselves with any other campaign. They have been associated with nothing and have always remained silent. However, they are keen that we do something to secure what they are looking for in Moore Street and that we arrange a proper commemoration in time for the centenary in 2016.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We are all mindful of the serious threat we face today at the summit in Brussels given the recent views expressed by the German, Finnish and Dutch finance Ministers. They sought to block or back track on the solemn agreement made in June that sovereign debt and bank debt should be decoupled. It was specifically agreed that the vicious circle between the two should be broken and that Ireland's debt should be re-examined with a view to improving its sustainability. Despite the views of Senator Byrne, we can have confidence that our Taoiseach and his team will ensure that the solemn agreement or commitment is re-affirmed and that we can make progress.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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I support the comments of Senator Coghlan. I reassure the House that An Taoiseach is doing absolutely everything to enforce the words of 29 June with regard to the separation of sovereign and private debt in the banks. To be fair, he is also gathering allies on this issue. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, was here last week. He said the agreement must be enforced as well. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, assures us that he is doing absolutely everything to get a deal on the debt. He has said that without it, it is like driving a car with the handbrake on. The House can rest assured that we are 100% sincere about this.

I am shocked and flabbergasted at the judgment in the sexual assault case reported on the front page of The Irish Times. A man with a previous record of serious harm and whose mother admitted that he had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child, got a suspended four-year sentence after attacking a 17 year old. As Senator Cáit Keane noted, he was asked to pay ¤15,000. I cannot get over why there was no requirement for him to attend counselling. The poor 17 year old victim is attending counselling every two weeks to get over it. This man has-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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That is an individual sentence.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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It is a very important point.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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It is a matter for the courts.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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We want to ensure for the sake of society and for the safety of women that he does not do it again.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The independence of the Judiciary is vital.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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This is important. It is about sexual violence against women. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, must come to the House to discuss-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator, you are discussing an individual case in the House and you are impinging on the Judiciary.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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It is a macro point. It is about healing and rehabilitation. I am simply questioning judgments in sexual assault cases. We must also help the perpetrators in order that we protect society and women. I want the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to come to the House such that we can examine judgments and how best to rehabilitate people who commit violent acts against women.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to pick up on the points made on the forthcoming summit by Senator Coghlan. I do not imagine there is anyone on this side of the House who would not support the efforts of the Government, led by the Taoiseach, to try to decouple the sovereign from the bank debt. Ultimately, that is a partial solution to getting us out of our economic woes. However, criticism has been levelled at the Taoiseach and the Government following the meeting that took place between the three finance Ministers. There has been government to government contact and given that three quarters of the Cabinet were in Brussels recently it should have afforded an opportunity, at least on a public relations basis, for the Taoiseach to have requested a meeting with the Prime Ministers of the relevant countries. At the very least there should have been a meeting held with the finance Ministers concerned, who seem to have taken a unilateral decision. Admittedly, they are very powerful but it raises the point about how successful we can be.

Unless we are successful, we will have serious difficulties in trying to get rid of our debt. We can talk about reducing our deficit to 3% of GDP until the cows come home but if we cannot get rid of the unsustainable bank debt and get it removed from the sovereign, then we will be running fast to stand still and into the next generation. That is why concern is being expressed on this side of the House. Whether it is a lack of awareness within the Government of the impact this is having on the public, there is a perception that we are not trying hard enough and that perhaps we should be playing hard ball.

It is obvious to the dogs in the street that Ireland was used as a guinea pig by the European Central Bank in particular. Mr. Trichet's remarks recently to the effect that the bank went the extra mile to help Ireland were not helpful either. It is perfectly clear that there is correspondence within the Department of the Taoiseach that forced the former Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, God rest him, to force Ireland into a bailout against the wishes of the Government of the time. It is time that those responsible in Europe stood up and did what they were supposed to do.

I fully agree with all the comments made. Whatever happened at the summit in June and irrespective of the meeting that took place subsequently between certain finance Ministers, the Taoiseach and the Government should stick closely and rigidly to what happened. Will the Leader entertain the notion that the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs would come to the House to give a post-summit briefing? That would allow an opportunity for us to tease out these issues.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Shakespeare once said that something was rotten in the state of Denmark. From what I read in the newspaper this morning, it seems something is rotten in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. It is appalling to think that money can buy one's way out of jail. The Minister for Justice and Equality needs to review sentencing in sexual cases.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator, you have to respect the independence of the Constitution and the Judiciary.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I am looking for a debate.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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You are not to bring the courts into disrepute in this House.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I am looking for a debate on improving the law on sexual crime in this country. We must ensure people go to jail when they commit acts of violence against women.

I call for a debate on the undocumented Irish living in America, on which Senator Michael Mullins commented earlier. I attended a rally in Washington in 2006 in support of the Kennedy McCain Immigration Bill. More than 3,000 undocumented Irish people, our citizens, are living and working in America. They cannot get health insurance or travel back to Ireland for family events such as weddings and funerals. Many of them have not been back in Ireland in 20 years. These people want to live legally and want to pay their taxes. They want to embrace a society in a place they now call home. Our Government and society have a responsibility to use whatever influence we have in Washington to support the legalisation and to create a path for documentation for these citizens of our country. We all know undocumented people in America. They are decent, hard-working people. They are our citizens. They fly the Irish flag at every opportunity and I am keen for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to update the House in due course on what exactly is happening to support the undocumented Irish in Washington and in America.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I emphasise to Members the importance of the independence of the Judiciary. I will not bring members of the Judiciary into disrepute or allow them to be brought into disrepute by anyone in the House.

Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I agree with the sentiments of those on the other side of the House with regard to the Personal Insolvency Bill when it comes to the banks. However, it is difficult to listen to members of Fianna Fáil talking about openness and transparency when it comes to the banking sector. The point that many of the leaders in the banks are missing is that they were saved in order that we could have a functioning banking system. I reject the idea that they would tell us, now that we own them, how the Personal Insolvency Bill should operate. That may be putting it too strongly but the idea that they have the clout that they seem to have is a matter of concern. I urge those in charge in the Government to let the banks know that we run them now and that 97% is not a small shareholding by any stretch of the imagination.

The economy cannot function unless the banks come to the realisation that they must work in the times that we are in and they must help those in distressed situations, and although they are in being to make profit, they need to realise that the clout they once had has diminished significantly.

I also support other colleagues who spoke about sexual violence against women. I do not wish to speak on any particular case that is being covered in the media, but at the same time the idea that money can buy a person freedom from punishment is serious. We need to have a debate on the matter in this House and I would welcome other Senators' calls for the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to come in for a meaningful debate on the issue.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Darragh O'Brien welcomed the credit guarantee scheme. We all would welcome this scheme. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, will be in the House on 13 November for two hours and we will be able to debate that credit guarantee scheme. Indeed, Senator Reilly asked for a debate on youth unemployment. We can include it with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, today and the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, on 13 November, and if we need to discuss the matter specifically we will arrange that also.

On home-help hours, there is the other side of the House in the person of Senator Darragh O'Brien criticising the Government for overruns in the health system but when it takes action, it is criticised as well. That is par for the course.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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They must take responsibility for it.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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That is what politics is all about. The Minister for Health was here and explained the situation when speaking on Second Stage on the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Take responsibility for it.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Cummins, without interruption.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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If Senator Darragh O'Brien has other amendments to make on that Bill, we will have the Bill on Report Stage in here next week.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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We will. Why will the Leader not take responsibility for the cuts?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Leader, without interruption.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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We would welcome any amendments Deputy Darragh O'Brien has and any suggestions,-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Take responsibility for the cut.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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-----and the Minister will also welcome any proposals that the Senator can give in order to cut funds and have an adequate health system.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Why is the Government blaming the HSE for it when the Minister is-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Leader, without interruption.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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We would really appreciate those constructive proposals at any time.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely no problem, as we continually do.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Bacik raised the EU summit. We will have the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Creighton, in here next week.

Senators Bacik, Keane, Healy Eames, Conway, Noone and Norris raised a court case and looked for a debate on sentencing guidelines. I concur with the Cathaoirleach that we must be mindful of the separation of powers. I respect what Senators are saying and how they feel on this case, but we cannot deal with individual cases here. I will try to get the Minister, Deputy Shatter, into the House, as has been requested, to debate the question of sentencing guidelines. A debate on something such as that is probably long overdue.

Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Norris raised No. 9 on the Order Paper, which is not a Government motion. I will certainly consider his suggestion and get back to him next week on it.

David Norris (Independent)
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I thank the Leader.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I note his points on the Family Support Agency. I am sure the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, will be quite willing to meet it. As he will be aware, she is totally consumed with the children's referendum. It may be after the children's referendum, but I am sure the Minister will be amenable to meeting the Family Support Agency.

David Norris (Independent)
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I appreciate the Leader's position and the Minister's.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Clune raised the web summit in Dublin which is of paramount importance to the country and the issue of technology visas. I will certainly raise that matter. The Minister is well aware of that situation. As I stated, we will have him in on 13 November but I will relay the Senator's concerns in that regard.

I would hope that Senator Byrne would find it in his heart to support the Taoiseach and the Government in our efforts to get a deal on bank debt in the interests of all the citizens. That would be the wish of everybody on the summit that will be held this week.

Senator Hayden raised the achievements of the Croke Park agreement. There have been many achievements on the Croke Park agreement over the past 18 months. We will have the Minister for Public Enterprise and Reform, Deputy Howlin, in the House, as has been requested, to debate the Croke Park agreement and, indeed, many other issues in respect of his Department.

I note Senator Barrett's comments on CIE and bus services for rural areas that have been withdrawn. We will have the Minister for Transport, Deputy Varadkar, in here, probably for an overall debate encompassing a number of areas on transport, in early course.

Senator Colm Burke raised the achievements and reform that have taken place in the health service. The Minister outlined those, in particular, on Second Stage of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012, and we will have him in again here next week.

On the issue of national monuments, raised by Senators Reilly and Ó Murchú, I will certainly invite the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, to come in. I am sure it is a matter that is close to the Taoiseach's heart and, indeed, the Minister's, and perhaps we could have an update on the situation. I note the points Senator Ó Murchú made on a television programme, which I have not viewed. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister and perhaps we can have him in here fairly soon.

Senator Kelly raised the question of answers to Adjournment motions and proposals for home help. I can raise the question of answers for Adjournment motions at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Ceann Comhairle has taken action in the other House. We will examine the system and see whether we can improve it in any way. On proposals which Senator Kelly made for home help, if he provides me with a copy of those proposals I will ensure the Minister gets them.

Senator Walsh commented on the banks. Indeed, other Senators have mentioned that. We will take Second Stage of the Personal Insolvency Bill in the House on 21 November and I can assure everybody that they will have ample time to debate that on Second Stage. We will provide as much time as possible for every Senator, if he or she wishes, to contribute on the Bill. There will be no time constraints and any points that anybody wishes to raise can be made by them at that stage.

Senator Comiskey raised the regrettable job losses in Abbott in Sligo. Hopefully, those jobs will be replaced in early course.

On Senator Daly's comments on banks, he will have ample time to bring forward amendments to the Personal Insolvency Bill if he is not happy with it. On the points he raised on the Minister, Deputy Burton, I hope he will stay on to make those points to her when she is here.

Senators Michael Mullins and Conway raised the undocumented Irish in the United States. The Government will continue to lobby on this issue. Senator Mullins also raised the point on the undocumented in this country, which is another matter in need of attention.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh mentioned the Sinn Féin budget proposals. As I stated, the Government will examine proposals from all sources but will then make its decisions, obviously based on the proposals.

Senator Keane raised the matter of sexual violence against women, which I have mentioned. She mentioned the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 1670. I will try to have a debate on that. Perhaps we can do so in the context of non-Government motion No. 9 on the Order Paper at a later stage.

Senators Paul Coghlan and Healy Eames raised progress at the EU summit on bank debt.

The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, will be in the House next week to discuss developments at the EU summit.

Senator Noone mentioned the banks and the insolvency Bill and those items can be discussed on 21 November. I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business. The issue has been covered here by the Minister and he has made the position clear. Senator Burke has also outlined the situation and has indicated that it is the intention of the Government to develop home-care packages.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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The Government is going in the wrong direction on it.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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There will not be a knee-jerk reaction because it must be planned properly. That is what will happen and there will be more home-care packages rolled out over the coming years. That is the intention of the Government. Therefore, I do not intend to accept the amendment to the Order of Business because we should not be making a political football out of this issue.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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It is a very serious issue. Should we not raise very serious issues in this House?

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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That is the prerogative of Members of the House and if they wish to do that, well and good.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Should we just lie down and let the Government cut home-care hours again?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That a debate with the Minister for the Health on Government policy in relation to home care hours be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, will be in the House next week to discuss developments at the EU summit.

Senator Noone mentioned the banks and the insolvency Bill and those items can be discussed on 21 November. I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business. The issue has been covered here by the Minister and he has made the position clear. Senator Burke has also outlined the situation and has indicated that it is the intention of the Government to develop home-care packages.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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The Government is going in the wrong direction on it.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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There will not be a knee-jerk reaction because it must be planned properly. That is what will happen and there will be more home-care packages rolled out over the coming years. That is the intention of the Government. Therefore, I do not intend to accept the amendment to the Order of Business because we should not be making a political football out of this issue.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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It is a very serious issue. Should we not raise very serious issues in this House?

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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That is the prerogative of Members of the House and if they wish to do that, well and good.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Should we just lie down and let the Government cut home-care hours again?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That a debate with the Minister for Health on Government policy in relation to home care hours be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Reilly has moved the following amendment to the Order of Business: "That the time allocated to No. 1 be extended by one hour to allow a debate on youth unemployment." Is the amendment being pressed?

Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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Yes.