Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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The Order of Business is No. 35, motion 14, Private Members' business, to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude not later than 6 p.m., and No. 1, Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of Private Members' business and to conclude not later than 9 p.m.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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It gives me no pleasure to have to raise again issues relating to the Minister for Health and how he manages his Department. On a number of occasions, I have raised issues in regard to Beaumont Hospital and Temple Street Children's Hospital and the filling of vacancies for paediatric physiotherapists for children with cystic fibrosis. I listened to Professor Norman Delanty, who I know, for whom I have great regard and with whom I have done quite a bit of work over the years, on the radio speak about the two epilepsy monitoring units which remain closed in Cork University Hospital and in Beaumont Hospital. More than 200 people are waiting for these units, people who Professor Delanty says could benefit and who are having two to three seizures per week. After a course of monitoring, they could benefit by being seizure free.

The Deputy Leader will agree that these are very urgent issues which need to be dealt with as well as the matter I raised previously in regard to Cúram in Swords in the Minister's consistency where there are no adult mental health services at all. The Minister closed the centre in Swords and moved people into the back of an office where there are no facilities for patients with serious mental health issues.

That is why I was particularly interested in the Minister's interest in two areas which are not even in his constituency, namely, Wexford and Kilkenny. My colleagues in the Dáil got no explanation from the Taoiseach or from the Minister as to why he decided it was appropriate to move Wexford General Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny up the list. Do not forget that when he expedites these projects, other towns and cities miss out.

I listened with interest to the notice given by Senator Kelly to raise a matter on the Adjournment on services in Roscommon hospital. As we know, Fine Gael promised specifically that there would be no changes in that hospital and, indeed, that it would be upgraded. Why did the Minister for Health deem it necessary to expedite improvements in Wexford General Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny?

I know why and I think we all know why, to be frank. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, who is the fixer and the bruiser in the Cabinet lobbied Minister Reilly very heavily and-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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That is very unparliamentary language.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Is it? I did not see it listed anywhere as unparliamentary language, in fairness. Let us forget about the individual concerned, so. We know why Deputy Hogan was able to announce the improvements in St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny before the HSE even knew about them. We know why the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, got Wexford bumped up the list before the HSE knew about it.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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This was at a cost, by the way, of an additional ¤12 million. The HSE had to find the money. Mr. Brian Gilroy had to write to the Minister for Health and point out that if he was to do this work he would need more money and, lo and behold, the Minister found the money. Where is the money for the 200 people with chronic epilepsy who are waiting to be monitored? Where is the money for the adult mental health services across the country, including for Cúram, which I have mentioned in this House and raised directly with the Minister? Where is the money for that?

Deputy Reilly got away with his primary health care centres and we all know that was one of the biggest strokes we have ever seen. Now Deputies Hogan and Howlin have questions to answer. How did they deem it appropriate to announce these two hospital improvements in advance of the HSE board actually approving them? What are they going to say on this? I am sure I will probably get the same answers as those given to my colleagues in the Dáil yesterday, which were flippant, glib and did not address the question. I ask the Deputy Leader, Senator Bacik, if she is happy with the way Wexford and Kilkenny were bumped up the list. Is she happy with the way the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly operates his Department and with the fact that he treats his capital budget like a slush fund? He uses it to give out money to his friends in Cabinet, who then announce improvements to facilities in their own constituencies to the detriment of other people around the country who are waiting. I would also like an update on the position regarding the epilepsy monitoring units in Cork and Beaumont Hospital. Is the Government going to leave the 200 people with chronic epilepsy with no monitoring services? Is it going to waste money sending them abroad to receive treatment they could receive here in Ireland?

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I commend Ms Tara Buckley of RGDATA on a report launched yesterday by that organisation entitled A Nightmare on Every Street, Town Centres, Car Parking and Smart Travel. We are all aware of the fact that we have a punitive level of parking charges and restrictions in most towns. Local authorities should be trying to save town centres from desertion and destruction but in many instances they are actively destroying the vitality of our towns. We must remember the enormous investment that has been made in town centres in recent years. The retail core is a very significant economic hub in every town and it must be protected. RGDATA carried out a survey which shows that the level of parking charges in all towns surveyed is punitive and that there are also many inconsistencies from one area to the next. I ask that parking charges be standardised. We need new guidelines to end inconsistencies and to help to combat the pull of shoppers away from towns towards out of town shopping centres with free parking. Standardised arrangements would provide a level playing pitch and would also provide additional funding for local authorities. Although we may be closing the stable door after the horse has bolted in this regard, it could stop the drift towards out of town planning, which has been disastrous. I commend the aforementioned report, about which I could say a lot more. I ask that we have a debate on this issue. Perhaps the Deputy Leader could ask the Leader, who is attending the State funeral today, to arrange a debate on town centres and their destruction.

Katherine Zappone (Independent)
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I was recently given the honour of being nominated to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on behalf of the Dáil Technical Group and Independent Senators. While attending the assembly session in Strasbourg last week, I also had the opportunity to chair a legal affairs committee in Brussels. Ireland's leadership and presence is critical for our Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Having just returned from Europe, I wish to raise a matter for debate which is linked to our priorities for the Presidency. During the statements on the budget for 2013, I raised concerns about Ireland's corporate tax rate and its impact on developing countries as well as its impact on our own public services. There is a significant difference between the nominal rate of 12.5% and the effective rate that multinational corporations operating in Ireland actually pay. Due to the various tax breaks that are available to the multinationals, the effective tax rate, according to some sources, is only 5% or 6%. I know Members are aware that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, recently responded to this and countered it by saying that the effective rate is as high as 11.9%. Obviously there is some debate going on in terms of the research but locating a subsidiary in Ireland is, for many multinationals, a crucial part of their tax avoidance or, to use better language, tax minimisation schemes. Developing countries lose more to tax avoidance by multinationals than they receive in aid, with Christian Aid putting forward the figure as high as $160 billion per year. Our own public services are also affected, with SMEs contributing to the maintenance of the public services that sustain their businesses while multinationals avail of competitive advantages such as tax breaks and simply freeload off these services.

Such practices have recently come under scrutiny in France, as Members are aware, and at parliamentary hearings in the UK. One of the things to emerge from the hearings is that compliance with standards as laid down by the law or by the EU can result in unethical practices and unfair outcomes, as the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Joe Costello, recently admitted. In the Minister of State's view, the issue should be dealt with in Brussels.

In that context, I have a question for the Deputy Leader. The programme for Ireland's Presidency acknowledges that the EU provides more than half of global development assistance. Our programme also states that Ireland wants to ensure that the EU's financial assistance to developing countries is as effective as possible. I ask that we invite the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, to the House to debate the effectiveness of our development aid in light of our corporate tax rate.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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I welcome the Deputy Leader's announcement that we are to debate fluoridation this afternoon. When Mr. Gay Mitchell, MEP, was here last week he referred to the Seanad as a valuable Chamber where debates can take place in a non-adversarial manner. There are most interesting arguments on both sides of the fluoridation debate and I welcome the scheduling of that discussion for this afternoon.

On this sad day, with the flag at half mast for Detective Garda Donohoe, to whom we paid tributes yesterday, I ask the Deputy Leader to examine No.51 on the Government's legislative programme, namely, the Garda Síochána (compensation for malicious injuries) Bill, which will provide a revised scheme for compensating gardaí maliciously injured in their work. Publication of that Bill is expected in late 2013 and while I appreciate that we should not make law in haste, perhaps the Deputy Leader would ascertain from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, whether that legislation could be brought forward without losing anything and retaining its effectiveness and intent. It would be the will of all Members in both Houses that we address this matter sooner rather than later in 2013.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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This morning in the National Museum of Ireland, 81 coins dating back to the 17th century will be handed over by those who found them approximately two weeks ago in my home town of Carrick-on-Suir. These coins are the most significant find since a previous find in 1947 in Laois. They were found in Cooney's pub, in the centre of the town, during renovations. That pub was in the ownership of cousins of mine for almost 100 years before the current owners took it over. In that context, I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, to return these coins, after the initial inspection and investigation, to the County Museum in Clonmel so that they can be housed there on an ongoing basis.

The museum plays a significant role in the culture of south Tipperary. It currently houses Ireland's first Olympic gold medal won by Tom Kiely from Ballyneal outside Carrick-on-Suir, the jersey worn on Bloody Sunday by Tom Hogan from Grangemockler, which is also outside Carrick-on-Suir, and all the memorabilia of Maurice Davin, also from Carrick-on-Suir, the first President of the Gaelic Athletic Association. It is only fitting that these medals be returned to the County Museum in Clonmel. I call on the Deputy Leader to initiate this process with the Minister, Deputy Deenihan. I have written to the Minister on the matter and will meet with him later today in the museum to discuss it further. The find is of great significance to the area. I understand some of the coins are so valuable their monetary value cannot be measured.

Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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I again call for a debate on the horse racing industry in Ireland during this term. As everybody will be aware, the horse racing industry in Ireland is worth millions of euro to our economy. However, as is the case in many other sectors it, too, is suffering as a result of the recession. The recent scare in regard to the use of horse meat in burgers triggered a great deal of media reports on the maltreatment of horses, including some horrendous anecdotal stories of trainers turning horses out of their stables because the owners could not afford to feed or train them. Attendance at race meetings is also starting to dwindle. I call on the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the House to make a statement on where he sees the horse racing industry going. It has always been the jewel in the crown of Ireland. Given we are facing into Cheltenham and all the tremendous interest it engenders, it would be timely to have such a debate now.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I did not have an opportunity yesterday to express my sympathy to Senator Imelda Henry on the death of her mother, also the wife of ex-councillor, Peter Henry, also to whom I did not have an opportunity yesterday to express my sympathy. I express those sympathies today. I also express my sympathy to Caroline, the wife of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who died and will be buried today, and to their extended family. It is important we do not forget about Detective Garda Joe Ryan, who is suffering great trauma at this time. We must ensure we do not forget the work our gardaí do. We have not forgotten and will not forget the late Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. Obviously, actions speaker louder than words.

As stated by Senator Barrett, legislation in haste is not a good idea. I highlight an issue raised approximately three or four years ago in the Dáil, namely, co-operation in the context of the Good Friday Agreement between the PSNI and Garda Síochána. I am a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. I congratulate the PSNI and Garda Síochána on the work they are doing. During her visit about two months ago to Hannah House in Dublin, I spoke to the assistant commissioner of the PSNI about the arrangements in place for gardaí taking up service in the PSNI and vice versa. Such persons are required to resign their posts, lose one year's pension and have no guarantee of being able to return to their original post. There is nothing in legislation to deal with this issue. I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment. Many Members have called for a debate on the Garda Síochána and the work it does. Our gardaí put their lives on the line for us. We must recognise they are a group apart in preserving society. We always admire doctors and nurses and so on but no group, other than the Garda Síochána, are asked to put their lives on line for us. I condemn the show of paramilitarism now tolerated by society. While I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment, I would welcome a debate in this House on co-operation North-South between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána and the putting in place of legislative arrangements for gardaí taking up posts in the PSNI and vice versa.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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As I was not in the House yesterday during the Order of Business, I take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest possible terms the callous murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to offer my condolences to his wife, children, family and all the people in Louth and across the State and island of Ireland who are shocked, saddened and angry about what happened.

I draw the Deputy Leader's attention to a report published yesterday by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which states that for the first time, the number of people presenting to that organisation for help has exceeded 100,000, which is a truly shocking indictment of the past six austerity budgets and, in particular, this Government owing to the fact that this figure doubled in the past three years alone. This is no surprise given the ESRI's statement that the most recent two budgets were the most unfair and unequal of the past six austerity budgets.

Yesterday, we had a good discussion on the Water Services Bill 2013. During the debate on that Bill, I raised the need for the Government to poverty-proof policies and new charges being introduced. Such calls when made are often met with derision from members of the Government. However, they are genuine when one considers the human tragedies outlined in the report of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, including that of an elderly couple, aged 82 and 85 years old, who for the first time in their long lives, with years of work behind them, had to ask it for help. Many ordinary families are struggling to pay their mortgages and are now turning to the Society of the St. Vincent de Paul for help with purchasing heating oil and are not in a position to put food on the table. That is what is happening in this State at this time. This magnifies the call by Sinn Féin for policies to be poverty-proofed.

Despite that I have called on several occasions for a debate in this House on poverty, it has not yet happened. We need to have a comprehensive debate on poverty in this State, what causes it and what actions we can take to address those issues. It would allow us collectively to offer our opinions on how to deal with poverty and help people in this State who are genuinely struggling to make ends meet.

Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael)
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Yesterday, the Law Reform Commission published a list of 19 recommendations in relation to missing persons, two of which were that the lands and estates of missing people be administered after 90 days and that the families of those missing be permitted to obtain a death certificate at some stage to allow proper address of property issues, including redress of those properties to the missing should they be found. I would welcome if an invitation to present before the Seanad could be extended to the Missing in Ireland group and some representatives of the Law Reform Commission, at which time they could put forward their proposals on this matter. Up to 8,000 people per year go missing in Ireland, quite a few of whom are found. However, when they are not found, it presents a huge problem for families. It would be important for this House to explore the Law Reform Commission's recommendations and to ensure they are legislated for properly.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Bhí mé ag cruinniú ar an Aoine den fhundúireacht nua atá ag plé leis na hospidéil i nGaillimh agus i Ros Comáin. Tháinig roinnt ceisteanna tromchúiseacha chun cinn. At a meeting of the Galway Roscommon University Hospitals Group on Friday, we were give information which I believe indicates a scary trend in the current provision of health services. Staff and management of the hospitals told us that there has been a marked increase - from 55 people per day this time last year to 65 this year, a 15% increase - in the number of people presenting at the accident and emergency departments during the past year.

When I asked whether that was a local or national trend, I was told that it was the latter. As the increase is predominantly among the elderly, it raises the question of why so many older people are presenting in hospitals. I would surmise that it has to do with the cutbacks and people growing sicker. We should examine this trend.

Questions must be asked about the way in which the Galway Roscommon University Hospitals Group has been developed as a model of hospital delivery. It covers four hospitals - two in Galway city, Portiuncula, and Roscommon - and mention has been made of the possibility of including the hospitals in Castlebar, Sligo and Letterkenny in the trust. However, the apparent emphasis on key performance indicators, KPIs, accountability and running the hospitals as a business is alarming, as there does not appear to be any KPI as regards the quality of service.

I am also concerned by the way the new hospital trust will relate to unionised labour within the hospitals. I worry that the trust may be a way of circumventing the industrial relations scenario so that management can drive nurses' wages down. The trust's CEO indicated to us that he hoped to have more wriggle room, as he put it, in wage negotiations.

We need to discuss this matter with the Minister for Health. If this model for delivery is to be replicated across the country, we need to examine what a hospital trust will do, how it will work, whether it constitutes privatisation by stealth, to whom will the boards be accountable and how they will treat ordinary hospital workers.

Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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I thank Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe for his bravery and professionalism during his life, for his great contribution to his community, for his love of football and his capacity to train young people, and for his significant contribution to the Garda Representative Association, GRA. He will be sadly missed. I offer my personal condolences and sympathies to his family, his children, his parents and his friends.

I call on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to attend the House. That Tesco has finally decided to withdraw its contract from Silvercrest Foods on the grounds of a breach of trust is a blow to the beef industry. Previously, I called on the Minister to explain to the House exactly what was written on the boxes delivered to Silvercrest Foods, what their contents were and what went into the burgers. The companies have not come forward to explain their position. I have been vocal on this issue. We cannot call on the companies to attend the House, but we can call on the Minister and I urge the Deputy Leader to do so.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I call for an urgent debate on the appalling emerging situation in Syria. Last night, we were all appalled to see on television the bodies of close to 100 men and young boys being pulled out of a river in Aleppo as well as images of thousands of refugees fleeing to neighbouring countries, where a large humanitarian crisis is emerging. The relief agencies admit that they are being overwhelmed and will shortly be unable to deal with the major crisis they have on their hands.

The UN-Arab League mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, has warned the UN Security Council that Syria is breaking up before people's eyes. I join him in urging the 15 nations of the council to put aside their differences and to attempt to put an end to this civil war urgently. The international community is not doing enough. This House needs to debate the issue. We have a history of dealing with crises, civil wars and peace processes. Ireland can play a key role, given the fact that we will hold the EU Presidency for the next six months. I call on the Deputy Leader to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Seanad to debate this ongoing and appalling crisis before the situation gets any worse.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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I will follow on from the request for a debate, and the concerns expressed by the Opposition Leader, Senator Darragh O'Brien, regarding the Department of Health's selection process for capital projects. I am unsettled by the suggestion that St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny and Wexford General Hospital were bumped up because of Departments trading favours and the hospitals' proximity to Ministers. Senator Kelly has raised a motion on the Adjournment this evening in the context of pre-election promises to the people of Roscommon and Sligo. It is disturbing to believe that Ministers made their announcements regarding the Kilkenny and Wexford hospitals without the HSE board's awareness. This is not to take from the worthiness of the projects in question, but to ask whether other hospitals were more worthy or urgent. Yesterday, the Minister was colourful in his description of portakabins at one site and the use of a former pharmacy in another instance, but those circumstances are replicated throughout the entire country. The flippancy of the Taoiseach is not welcome in dealing with what on the surface amounts to blatant corruption in most people's eyes.

These issues need to be clarified. In Sligo, for example, a major capital project was announced in 2010 and is undergoing various processes in the HSE. The people of Sligo and the north west would be as anxious as those in Roscommon to know what progress there has been. While I acknowledge the best efforts of the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, Deputy McLoughlin and Senators O'Keeffe and Comiskey, they are not in Cabinet. Is it the case that a hospital must be in proximity to a Minister to secure the progression of a capital project?

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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That never happened before.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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If it is the case, the people of the north west can rightly be concerned. The Opposition Leader has directly asked the Deputy Leader and the Labour Party whether they are happy with the processes and procedures that are followed in this headless chicken approach to selecting projects for progression. Even if it does not come today, it is important that the House has an answer.

Last week, I raised another issue of concern in the selection process. I will ask the Deputy Leader a question about the appointment to the Heritage Council by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, of persons who had not even applied. Last week, the Leader undertook to answer my question this week.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator has gone over time.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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Some 76 applicants were unsuccessful. I am sure that they are anxious to know how an activist in Labour's presidential campaign and a former press officer managed to sneak in without even having applied.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, will Senator MacSharry clarify his comments? Did he refer to "blatant corruption"? If so, will he withdraw that remark?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Is that a point of order?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I call Senator Burke.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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On the surface, it would appear to be corrupt.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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Will the Senator withdraw his remark?

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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There is absolutely no way in the wide earthly world that I would have any intention of withdrawing that remark because blatant corruption is what it appears to be, and I am glad to have had the opportunity to underline my point.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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It is a political charge. I call Senator Burke, without interruption.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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Sermons on corruption from Fianna Fáil. That is a good one.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I join in the conveying of sympathies to the family of Adrian Donohoe. I also convey my sympathies to our colleague, Senator Henry, on the death of her mother and to the family of Éamon de Buitléar. Adrian Donohoe was not just a member of the Garda. He also gave local leadership in his area and to the people with whom he lived. This is not just a loss to the Garda or a huge loss to his family, but to the local community.

I wish to raise a concern. Yesterday, I received a telephone call from someone who was providing a service to the State. The person furnished an account to the State for work done and a Department signed off on payment last June, but that person has still not received payment despite being required to pay tax. As the person is unable to receive a tax clearance certificate, they cannot qualify for further State work.

It is outrageous and deplorable that a Department is not paying within the required 30 days.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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This is more appropriate to an Adjournment matter debate.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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It is important as there is currently a problem with cashflow, particularly with self-employed people. The State now appears to be contributing to the problem, and it is outrageous that the person I described must pay interest on income tax but the State will not pay interest on the money owed. It would be appropriate for the matter to be taken up with all the Departments and where money is owed, it should be paid within 30 days as required. I ask that the issue be clarified immediately and dealt with.

David Norris (Independent)
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I share the concern expressed by people on this side of the House about the revelations concerning apparent interference in the distribution of money in the health service. It is not satisfactory just to say that Fianna Fáil did it in the past and we can do it now as a result. That seems to be the tenor of some of the comments. We were promised new politics by this Government.

Senators:

Hear, hear.

David Norris (Independent)
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We were promised an end to stroke politics and corruption.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

David Norris (Independent)
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It seems there is very little to choose between people. Fianna Fáil seems to be in the process of learning its lesson, and if the Government wants to learn a lesson, it should consider what happened to that party at the last election. It may happen to the Government parties as they may be continuing on the same path.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is there a question?

David Norris (Independent)
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When will there be a debate on the matter as it seems to distort Government policy? We were told there would be a policy of centres of excellence-----

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

David Norris (Independent)
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-----and people around the country were prepared to sacrifice their personal interests in order to support the policy in the interests of the citizens. The HSE does not seem to know that the position is being changed as the colleagues of Ministers - who seem to have persuaded the Minister in charge of public expenditure - turn up at announcements and the launching of projects. Meanwhile, HSE personnel are puzzled. That reminds me of the Taoiseach's announcement that he would abolish the Seanad when in the presence of the Leader of the Seanad, who plainly had not the slightest idea that this was coming down the track. I deplore this action and it is very important that we clean up this mess and ensure we have good standards in politics. I am not a member of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour or Sinn Féin.

I went to the forum on the convention on the Constitution at the weekend as a sceptic but I returned from it fully converted. I was immensely impressed by the contributions of those citizens randomly selected. I was very taken by the comments of somebody at my table who said that although he was not super intelligent and did not have a real political grasp, it was his Constitution and there was a right to participate. That was a wonderful attitude and he may have underestimated himself. We had marvellous discussions. People from the Seanad broadened the remit to take in issues like nomination to the Presidency, and 96% of people - the highest percentage of any issue - were in favour of it. People felt it was important.

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

David Norris (Independent)
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I hope people and politicians will continue to broaden this issue and take in the most significant change to the Constitution in my lifetime, the abolition of an entire arm of governance.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the speech overnight by President Obama in which he indicated he will initiate legislation for the undocumented immigrants - estimated at 11 million people - living in the United States. That follows a bipartisan statement of principles, with four Democrats and four Republicans coming together to issue a set of principles on what they believe could constitute all-party agreement legislation for the undocumented people in America. This issue has seen renewed focus since the presidential election, when Republicans realised that the Hispanic vote had moved to Democrats, and that the issue of legislating - or at least creating a path to legalisation - for the 11 million people in the United States living illegally was something that Hispanics wanted. I hope this happens and if it does, it will help the 30,000 to 50,000 undocumented Irish who are living illegally in the United States currently.

We should hope this is not a false dawn like that of 2007, when I and others from this House attended a rally in snow in March that year with more than 3,000 illegal Irish people in America. That was in support of the Kennedy-McCain Bill and I am delighted that Senator John McCain is again involved with three other Republicans in trying to deal comprehensively with this issue once and for all. I am very happy that President Obama has issued a statement indicating that if action is not forthcoming, he will initiate legislation in this regard.

I call for a debate in this House on the undocumented Irish in America as a matter of urgency, given the political developments on Capitol Hill over recent days. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade should have a renewed sense of urgency in dealing with the issue. It would be an important debate.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I was going to raise the matter mentioned by Senator Conway but first I convey my amazement and shock at the hypocrisy from the other side of the House after the announcement of-----

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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It is hypocrisy from the Senator's side.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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It is true that it is hypocrisy. I ask the Cathaoirleach to ask Senator MacSharry to withdraw his comments.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Why?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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It was a political charge. I have ruled on the matter already. Is there a question for the Deputy Leader?

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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We can talk about hypocrisy. There should be debate in this House about corruption. We can talk about announcements. Before the 2007 and 2011 elections, the local and print media could not keep up with all the announcements from Fianna Fáil Ministers about achievements.

David Norris (Independent)
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That sounds like hypocrisy to me.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I will make no apology-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is there a question for the Deputy Leader? The Senator, without interruption.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, and I will make no apology for looking after the people of the south east and Kilkenny.

David Norris (Independent)
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That sounds like an admission.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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Under Fianna Fáil we had the lowest earnings per capita and the worst uptake of university education because there is no university in the south east.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I would sit down if I were the Senator.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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People in glass houses should not throw stones. How many Fianna Fáil leaders had to resign because of corruption?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is there a question?

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I have a question related to the matter raised by Senator Conway.

David Norris (Independent)
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The Senator is basically saying that corruption exists-----

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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No, I want a debate about corruption.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator should finish.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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What is the question?

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the announcement mentioned by Senator Conway. There should be a debate on the matter in this House and perhaps it could be similar to what was done with the leader of the Orange Order.

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

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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Perhaps we could bring in the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Irish ambassador to the US or the US ambassador to Ireland. The Bill will propose a five year probationary period, a large fine, payment of back taxes and no benefits for the full probationary period. As a House, we could have a big input on how the legislation will be framed and how we can help the people lost in the American system.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Well said.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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When one gets to the high moral ground, it can be a very shaky position.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senators opposite are experts in the field.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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We had good tutors in the Progressive Democrats and no doubt Fine Gael has the same in Labour. I endorse everything said by Senator Conway about the undocumented in the US. I have had the honour and pleasure over many years, along with colleagues on all sides of the House, in advancing this case.

No matter where a development took place, the Opposition parties would have criticised it. If that is the best they can do, they should try harder because it is not impressive.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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It is a waste of valuable time.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Senator O'Brien raised the issue of the epilepsy monitoring units in Beaumont and CUH in response to reports in the newspapers. The units are being developed under the HSE's national clinical care programme for epilepsy. Such monitoring is only required for the most difficult cases and the majority of patients have their care needs met through other epilepsy services, including newly established rapid access clinics in four centres, including Beaumont Hospital. The units in that hospital and in CUH, when opened, will increase pre-surgical evaluation capacity. Separately, the HSE has advised that the Beaumont Hospital and the executive are working jointly to fill the posts necessary to support the service development. In Cork, the service plan for 2013 is currently being drawn up and the HSE advises it will be finalised in the coming weeks. The provision of additional staff for that unit is being considered as part of the process.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Can I have a copy of the note?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Yes, I will give the Senator a copy of the briefing.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy Leader.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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With regard to the other health-related issue the Senator raised, I have no difficulty asking the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Health to come to the House for a debate on health services. The Government is engaged in a radical programme of reform of health care. Targets for trolley numbers have been significantly reduced and waiting time targets for surgery are being met. Significant progress has been made. The programme for Government contains an ambitious plan to introduce a system of universal health insurance to meet the needs of people, something about which many of us are passionate in the Labour Party and Fine Gael. We have had a policy on this for many years to ensure we do away at last with the dreadful two-tier system in the health service. This is the overall reform that the Minister and the Government is intent on and that we should all support.

On the issue of the upgrading of the two hospitals in Kilkenny and Wexford to which the Deputy referred, I will supply the Senator with a copy of the briefing I received, which sets out the factual position. Members have been bandying words such as "corruption" around carelessly in the Chamber. We need to be cautious about this. Both hospitals were included in the capital plan for 2010 to 2015, which predates the Government. Both projects were at design stage and significant work had been carried out in the context of planning and design. As Senator Michael D'Arcy helpfully pointed out, the accident and emergency department in Wexford hospital was in poor condition while the Kilkenny unit was housed in a portakabin and, therefore, there was no doubt about the need for upgrades. The proposed extension to Wexford hospital featured in the HSE regional service plan for 2011 and preceding years. Planning permission for the project was lodged in 2010 by the HSE and was granted by Wexford Borough Council in 2011. Design and planning work had commenced as far back as 2009. The upgrading of St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, was included in the overall capital plan. There was no doubt about the needs being met. I can invite the Minister for Health to the House to address this issue in the context of a debate on the reform of the health care system generally. The grouping of hospitals is designed to ensure hospitals will develop to their full potential in order that patients receive expert treatment using the concept of centres of excellence coupled with the concept of treating patients as close to home as possible at the lowest level of complexity. We should all support that reform principle.

Senator Coghlan raised the RGDATA report and the survey about the health of the retail industry. This is an important topic and I agree we should have a debate on this.

I congratulate Senator Zappone on her appointment to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I am glad she will represent us there along with other colleagues. She raised the interesting and important issue of the impact on development countries of low corporate tax rates in the developed world. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Joe Costello, will be keen to address this. He previously accepted an invitation to come to the House for a debate on Irish Aid and overseas development aid, hopefully, before the end of February. The Senator should raise the issue during that debate.

Senator Barrett welcomed the Private Members' debate on the fluoridation motion. We considered it important, despite that fact that the House will adjourn for most of the day as a mark of respect to the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to enable colleagues to attend the funeral, to proceed with Private Members' business and it has been scheduled accordingly. The Senator also raised the reform of the Garda compensation scheme and the Garda compensation (amendment) Bill. He said the Bill should be expedited. That is a good idea and I will pass his request on to the Minister for Justice and Equality. Given what has happened, everyone would approve of that.

Senator Landy raised the issue of the find of gold coins in Carrick-on-Suir and the event in the National Museum later. I will write to the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht about the return of the coins to the county museum in Clonmel, although I acknowledge the Senator will do so as well. I wonder whether it would be worth asking the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport about this when he comes to the House tomorrow for statements on The Gathering because it is another way to encourage visitors, for example, to go to Clonmel. I was not aware there was a county museum and that it had the first Olympic gold medals won by an Irish athlete. This also comes within the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Senator O'Sullivan called for a review of the horse racing industry. He could raise this with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport tomorrow. Members will have an opportunity to ask questions. While the debate is about The Gathering, people come to Ireland to attend horse racing meetings and this comes within his brief.

Senator Keane paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Donohoe and expressed sympathy to Senator Henry. She raised the issue of the PSNI and Garda arrangements. She has tabled this matter on the Adjournment but the House could also have a wider debate on it.

Senator Cullinane called for a debate on poverty, which he has called for previously. I will ask the Leader about that.

Senator Mulcahy raised the Law Reform Commission report on missing persons. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality engaged with the LRC and produced an earlier report on missing persons. There had been a good deal of liaison between us and the commission. A number of groups appeared before the committee but we may look to the debate the report in the House.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh also raised the health issues and I have replied on them. He referred to concerns about the new hospital trusts amounting to privatisation by stealth. I utterly refute that. There is no question of that.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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We should debate it.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I have no problem debating it. I would like to invite the Minister for Health to the House to debate overall health care reform and how we are progressing on the route to a universal health care system that is genuinely fair and equitable for the first time in the history of the State. It is first time a Government has committed to this

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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The chief executive officer has a different view.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Previous Governments had a disastrous privatisation by stealth policy with co-location, which failed.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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What does the acting Leader think the Minister for Health is doing differently?

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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It will lead to the same result.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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The Senator is misrepresenting the policy.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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On a point of order, I ask the Deputy Leader to take back the statement that I am misrepresenting the truth; I am not.

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

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I did not necessarily mean deliberately.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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I am not misrepresenting the truth. I have the minutes of the meeting if the Deputy Leader would like to respond.

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

Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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Senator O'Keeffe also paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Donohoe. She called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House in light of the withdrawal by Tesco from its contract with Silvercrest Foods. I can call on him to come to the House.

Senator Mullins raised the appalling news of mass execution in Aleppo, Syria, and the concerns about the break up of the country. A few hours ago, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Joe Costello, made an announcement at a major humanitarian pledging conference for Syria that Irish Aid will give an additional ¤4.7 million to provide humanitarian relief in Syria. That is an important commitment, which I am sure everyone will welcome.

Senator MacSharry also raised the hospitals issue, which I have addressed. He referred to the Heritage Council, which is something he could raise directly with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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I asked the Leader last week who said he would respond. I acknowledge it is a difficult issue but it is important for the integrity of the people involved that we get a response. Why will the Deputy Leader not write to the Minister in the same way she is writing to him about the issue raised by Senator Landy?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I have not spoken with the Leader. He may well have-----

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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Why will the Deputy Leader not write to the Minister in the same way she is writing to him about the earlier issue? It is difficult but it is important to have an answer for the 76 unsuccessful applicants.

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

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It may well be that the Leader has raised it with the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and, therefore, I will ask him.

Senator Burke raised the issue of delays in payments, which may be taken as a matter on the Adjournment. He also paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

Senator Norris referred to health services, which I have dealt with. I agree with this comments on the constitutional convention, which I also attended. I was very impressed by the engagement of citizens.

Senator Conway raised the welcome announcement by President Obama that he proposes to formalise the status of 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. I thought for a moment he was going to ask for the President to be invited to address the House. That may be going a little far.

Senator Martin Conway:

We travelled to the United States and tried to promote the best possible outcome. All of us, particularly those of us from the western seaboard from where there has been a high level of emigration, are aware of families who have been riven as a result of their undocumented status and being unable to return home for family events. That is still the case. The initiatives that came from a bipartisan group of Senators and Members of both Houses and now followed up by President Obama, as Senator Conway said, are to be welcomed. I hope that will be an added incentive for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government to continue to make representations to the US Administration and that the Irish Embassy in Washington, which has played a superb role in this throughout, will step up its efforts in this regard and that, hopefully, we will see an end to what has been a very sad and unfortunate episode in Irish-American relations.

Senators:

Hear, hear.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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I call on the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Finance to come into the House to give a brief description and clarification of what is happening with regard to the impending deadline for the payment of the promissory notes. It is important that the negotiators are allowed as much autonomy and freedom as possible to negotiate but it is also important that, as a democracy, this and the other House would be informed in general terms about what is happening in this regard. The payment of ¤3.1 billion is due in March and if things go awfully wrong, another ¤3.1 billion will be due in June from last year. It will make every other thing we do in this country redundant if we cannot achieve a deal on this.

I was a little disappointed with some of the comments speculating about the negotiations that I heard from those in the media and the Opposition. I would give the humble advice that Opposition Members when commenting on perceived bad news in the media about the negotiations would do well to keep the joy out of their voices. I listened to a fellow Corkman and finance spokesperson for Fianna Fáil speak on the radio over the weekend commenting about the perceived setbacks in the negotiations and-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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In terms of the record of the House, the Senator should not mention people who are not here to defend themselves.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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Of course, but it seemed that there was a certain glee in that spokesperson's voice that things were not going perhaps as good as-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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That is very unlikely. That is not fair.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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It is not fair.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I think we have said on numerous occasions that we support the Government in what it is trying to do.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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I support my colleague, Senator O'Neill, in his comments asking Senator MacSharry to withdraw his rather inappropriate remarks. It invites a level of ridicule when we hear Fianna Fáil speaking of corruption given that it did not have a leader among its last four who did not leave without a cloud over his head.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Does the Senator remember himself one time?

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Acting Leader to organise a debate on the undocumented in the United States. President Obama outlined his proposals yesterday and in his address spoke about previous generations of emigrants to the United States, including the Irish who were fleeing the Famine. On Monday eight Senators, comprising Republicans and Democrats, including Senator McCain, who previously tried to get comprehensive emigration reform through the Senate, along with Senator Rubio and Democrats, including Church Schumer, who has been tireless in his efforts on behalf of the undocumented Irish in the US, put forward their proposals and outlined what they are hoping to do for the 11 million undocumented in the United States, including the 50,000 Irish who find themselves in that situation. I ask the Acting Leader to organise a debate as soon as possible to ensure that all those who find themselves in this unfortunate situation in the US are dealt with on this occasion.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I would welcome it if the Minister for Health was to come into the House and outline the circumstances in regard to the extensions to the hospitals in Wexford and Kilkenny. There seems to be a certain amount of begrudgery about the projects in both those hospitals. I want to put on record that the proposal to extend the emergency department in Wexford General Hospital dates back to 2005. The hospital opened in the early 1990s and it is now 2013. The construction work is ongoing and on completion of it the opening date will be in 2014, almost 25 years after the extension was proposed.

For too long counties like Wexford were completely ignored by previous Administrations. I do not attach my name to chicanery of any nature but Wexford General Hospital got no more and no less than that to which it was entitled. The emergency department was operating out of a converted pharmacy in one of the largest counties in the country with a population of 150,000 people. I have had the misfortune to be there on numerous occasions going back to my days playing football and when family members have been ill. I have seen people in corridors passing away. If Fianna Fáil wants to stick a corruption tag on to the appropriate development of-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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We want explanations - that is all.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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-----the emergency department in Wexford General Hospital, it can do so, but I do not hear the Deputies or Senators representing Wexford saying anything about it-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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So?

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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-----nor do I hear any Member representing Kilkenny saying anything about it.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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So?

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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There was no corruption attached to this announcement or to the correct development of the extension to Wexford General Hospital. I want to put that on the record. I would welcome if it could be arranged for the Minister for Health to come into the House to give a full explanation of this-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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That is all we are looking for.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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-----as he did in the Dáil Chamber yesterday.

I want to take this opportunity to raise the issue of the discussions the Government is having with the troika on the promissory note for the IBRC and to request that the Leader invite Christine Lagarde, the former French finance Minister, to address the Seanad.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The CPP would make a decision on that so the Senator could take that up with the Leader.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I want to put it on the record and I will write to the CPP. Christine Lagarde is the head of the IMF. If she were to address this Chamber, it would be a fantastic opportunity to listen to her views on the discussions that are ongoing. Prior to the troika coming to town we were told that the IMF was the worst of the worst but amazingly we are finding that the ECB tends to be the worst of the worst. We are being told at any rate-----

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

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I apologise for that.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I call Senator Harte.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I am just finishing. We are being told that the IMF is giving us the most support on an appropriate deal on the promissory notes in the interests of the citizens of this country.

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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I would also welcome if the Minister for Health were to come into the House to discuss developments in primary care and hospital care. Letterkenny General Hospital opened a new accident and emergency unit recently and there was no political trumpet blaring because the previous Government and this Government were instrumental in delivering that. Fianna Fáil should be very careful about criticising developments in the health service.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Why should we be, Jimmy?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Has the Senator a question for the Acting Leader?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Can we not ask for an explanation?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Has Senator Harte a question for the Leader?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Can I ask for an explanation?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Allow Senator Harte to continue without interruption.

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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When Senator O'Brien's Government was in power and his party's current leader was Minister for Health, the health service in Donegal was run down to the degree that-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Really?

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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Yes.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Has the Senator a question for the Leader?

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Why can we not ask for an explanation-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Has Senator Harte a question for the Leader?

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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There were 15,000 people-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I will come in and ask the Senator if it is okay to ask certain questions and he can improve them. Is that what he is saying?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator O'Brien, can we hear Senator Harte without interruption? Has Senator Harte a question for the Leader?

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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I ask that the Minister be invited to come into the House to discuss developments. The health service in the north west and in Donegal was decimated during the good times. Members should remember this was not at a time when there were cuts. Some 15,000 people took to the streets of Letterkenny campaigning for cancer services and the then Fianna Fail and Green Party Government had to be dragged to the table to even discuss it. The people in Donegal took matters into their own hands. This happened in years when there was spending but Donegal was ignored by Senator O'Brien's current leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, when he was Minister and we all know he issued 140 or 150 reports which are still lying in the Department. The question on this should put to the former Minister, Deputy Martin.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Has the Senator a question for the Leader?

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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I ask that the Minister come into the House to outline future developments. I congratulate the hospitals in Wexford and Kilkenny on this and if it was good news for Donegal I would be congratulating the work because it is about delivering the service.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Certainly we can ask for a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the US Ambassador. Senator Pat O'Neill called for a similar debate and pointed out hypocrisy on the part of the Opposition on the hospitals issue.

Senator Paschal Mooney raised the issue of the undocumented Irish on which there appears to be cross-party support for a debate.

Senator John Gilroy asked if the Minister for Finance would update the House on the negotiations on the promissory note. I agree with what the Senator has said. We can certainly explore if it is possible to get an update on the issue but given that the negotiations may be at a delicate stage we will have to see whether that would be possible nearer the time but we can find out.

Senator Mark Daly also raised the issue of the undocumented Irish which I have addressed.

Senator Michael D'Arcy pointed out the need for an upgrade to Wexford hospital. On the issue of the promissory note he suggested that Christine Lagarde be invited to appear before the House. There is a greater prospect of her appearing before the House than President Obama. We can certainly do that. I will speak to the Leader about it and we can put it on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which is the appropriate forum.

Senator Jimmy Harte raised the issue of the state of hospitals in Donegal. If the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, comes to the House the Senator can raise the issue with him.

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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No matter where a development took place, the Opposition parties would have criticised it. If that is the best they can do, they should try harder because it is not impressive.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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It is a waste of valuable time.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Senator O'Brien raised the issue of the epilepsy monitoring units in Beaumont and CUH in response to reports in the newspapers. The units are being developed under the HSE's national clinical care programme for epilepsy. Such monitoring is only required for the most difficult cases and the majority of patients have their care needs met through other epilepsy services, including newly established rapid access clinics in four centres, including Beaumont Hospital. The units in that hospital and in CUH, when opened, will increase pre-surgical evaluation capacity. Separately, the HSE has advised that the Beaumont Hospital and the executive are working jointly to fill the posts necessary to support the service development. In Cork, the service plan for 2013 is currently being drawn up and the HSE advises it will be finalised in the coming weeks. The provision of additional staff for that unit is being considered as part of the process.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Can I have a copy of the note?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Yes, I will give the Senator a copy of the briefing.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy Leader.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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With regard to the other health-related issue the Senator raised, I have no difficulty asking the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Health to come to the House for a debate on health services. The Government is engaged in a radical programme of reform of health care. Targets for trolley numbers have been significantly reduced and waiting time targets for surgery are being met. Significant progress has been made. The programme for Government contains an ambitious plan to introduce a system of universal health insurance to meet the needs of people, something about which many of us are passionate in the Labour Party and Fine Gael. We have had a policy on this for many years to ensure we do away at last with the dreadful two-tier system in the health service. This is the overall reform that the Minister and the Government is intent on and that we should all support.

On the issue of the upgrading of the two hospitals in Kilkenny and Wexford to which the Deputy referred, I will supply the Senator with a copy of the briefing I received, which sets out the factual position. Members have been bandying words such as "corruption" around carelessly in the Chamber. We need to be cautious about this. Both hospitals were included in the capital plan for 2010 to 2015, which predates the Government. Both projects were at design stage and significant work had been carried out in the context of planning and design. As Senator Michael D'Arcy helpfully pointed out, the accident and emergency department in Wexford hospital was in poor condition while the Kilkenny unit was housed in a portakabin and, therefore, there was no doubt about the need for upgrades. The proposed extension to Wexford hospital featured in the HSE regional service plan for 2011 and preceding years. Planning permission for the project was lodged in 2010 by the HSE and was granted by Wexford Borough Council in 2011. Design and planning work had commenced as far back as 2009. The upgrading of St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, was included in the overall capital plan. There was no doubt about the needs being met. I can invite the Minister for Health to the House to address this issue in the context of a debate on the reform of the health care system generally. The grouping of hospitals is designed to ensure hospitals will develop to their full potential in order that patients receive expert treatment using the concept of centres of excellence coupled with the concept of treating patients as close to home as possible at the lowest level of complexity. We should all support that reform principle.

Senator Coghlan raised the RGDATA report and the survey about the health of the retail industry. This is an important topic and I agree we should have a debate on this.

I congratulate Senator Zappone on her appointment to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I am glad she will represent us there along with other colleagues. She raised the interesting and important issue of the impact on development countries of low corporate tax rates in the developed world. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Joe Costello, will be keen to address this. He previously accepted an invitation to come to the House for a debate on Irish Aid and overseas development aid, hopefully, before the end of February. The Senator should raise the issue during that debate.

Senator Barrett welcomed the Private Members' debate on the fluoridation motion. We considered it important, despite that fact that the House will adjourn for most of the day as a mark of respect to the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to enable colleagues to attend the funeral, to proceed with Private Members' business and it has been scheduled accordingly. The Senator also raised the reform of the Garda compensation scheme and the Garda compensation (amendment) Bill. He said the Bill should be expedited. That is a good idea and I will pass his request on to the Minister for Justice and Equality. Given what has happened, everyone would approve of that.

Senator Landy raised the issue of the find of gold coins in Carrick-on-Suir and the event in the National Museum later. I will write to the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht about the return of the coins to the county museum in Clonmel, although I acknowledge the Senator will do so as well. I wonder whether it would be worth asking the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport about this when he comes to the House tomorrow for statements on The Gathering because it is another way to encourage visitors, for example, to go to Clonmel. I was not aware there was a county museum and that it had the first Olympic gold medals won by an Irish athlete. This also comes within the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Senator O'Sullivan called for a review of the horse racing industry. He could raise this with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport tomorrow. Members will have an opportunity to ask questions. While the debate is about The Gathering, people come to Ireland to attend horse racing meetings and this comes within his brief.

Senator Keane paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Donohoe and expressed sympathy to Senator Henry. She raised the issue of the PSNI and Garda arrangements. She has tabled this matter on the Adjournment but the House could also have a wider debate on it.

Senator Cullinane called for a debate on poverty, which he has called for previously. I will ask the Leader about that.

Senator Mulcahy raised the Law Reform Commission report on missing persons. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality engaged with the LRC and produced an earlier report on missing persons. There had been a good deal of liaison between us and the commission. A number of groups appeared before the committee but we may look to the debate the report in the House.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh also raised the health issues and I have replied on them. He referred to concerns about the new hospital trusts amounting to privatisation by stealth. I utterly refute that. There is no question of that.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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We should debate it.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I have no problem debating it. I would like to invite the Minister for Health to the House to debate overall health care reform and how we are progressing on the route to a universal health care system that is genuinely fair and equitable for the first time in the history of the State. It is first time a Government has committed to this

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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The chief executive officer has a different view.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Previous Governments had a disastrous privatisation by stealth policy with co-location, which failed.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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What does the acting Leader think the Minister for Health is doing differently?

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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It will lead to the same result.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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The Senator is misrepresenting the policy.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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On a point of order, I ask the Deputy Leader to take back the statement that I am misrepresenting the truth; I am not.

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

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I did not necessarily mean deliberately.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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I am not misrepresenting the truth. I have the minutes of the meeting if the Deputy Leader would like to respond.

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

Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)
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Senator O'Keeffe also paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Donohoe. She called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House in light of the withdrawal by Tesco from its contract with Silvercrest Foods. I can call on him to come to the House.

Senator Mullins raised the appalling news of mass execution in Aleppo, Syria, and the concerns about the break up of the country. A few hours ago, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Joe Costello, made an announcement at a major humanitarian pledging conference for Syria that Irish Aid will give an additional ¤4.7 million to provide humanitarian relief in Syria. That is an important commitment, which I am sure everyone will welcome.

Senator MacSharry also raised the hospitals issue, which I have addressed. He referred to the Heritage Council, which is something he could raise directly with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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I asked the Leader last week who said he would respond. I acknowledge it is a difficult issue but it is important for the integrity of the people involved that we get a response. Why will the Deputy Leader not write to the Minister in the same way she is writing to him about the issue raised by Senator Landy?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I have not spoken with the Leader. He may well have-----

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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Why will the Deputy Leader not write to the Minister in the same way she is writing to him about the earlier issue? It is difficult but it is important to have an answer for the 76 unsuccessful applicants.

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

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It may well be that the Leader has raised it with the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and, therefore, I will ask him.

Senator Burke raised the issue of delays in payments, which may be taken as a matter on the Adjournment. He also paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

Senator Norris referred to health services, which I have dealt with. I agree with this comments on the constitutional convention, which I also attended. I was very impressed by the engagement of citizens.

Senator Conway raised the welcome announcement by President Obama that he proposes to formalise the status of 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. I thought for a moment he was going to ask for the President to be invited to address the House. That may be going a little far.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I encourage the Deputy Leader to write to him.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Certainly we can ask for a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the US Ambassador. Senator Pat O'Neill called for a similar debate and pointed out hypocrisy on the part of the Opposition on the hospitals issue.

Senator Paschal Mooney raised the issue of the undocumented Irish on which there appears to be cross-party support for a debate.

Senator John Gilroy asked if the Minister for Finance would update the House on the negotiations on the promissory note. I agree with what the Senator has said. We can certainly explore if it is possible to get an update on the issue but given that the negotiations may be at a delicate stage we will have to see whether that would be possible nearer the time but we can find out.

Senator Mark Daly also raised the issue of the undocumented Irish which I have addressed.

Senator Michael D'Arcy pointed out the need for an upgrade to Wexford hospital. On the issue of the promissory note he suggested that Christine Lagarde be invited to appear before the House. There is a greater prospect of her appearing before the House than President Obama. We can certainly do that. I will speak to the Leader about it and we can put it on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which is the appropriate forum.

Senator Jimmy Harte raised the issue of the state of hospitals in Donegal. If the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, comes to the House the Senator can raise the issue with him.