Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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It is proposed to take No. 1, motion re the Planning and Development (Amendment) Regulations 2013, back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on hospital services, to be taken at 1.30 p.m., to conclude no later than 2.30 p.m., with the contribution of all Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called upon to reply no later than 2.25 p.m.; No. 3, Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 - Second Stage, to be taken at 2.30 p.m. and to conclude no later than 4.30 p.m., with the contribution of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called upon to reply to the debate no later than 4.20 p.m.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of the members of the Fianna Fáil group, I wish to convey our condolences to the Bolger family on the terrible tragedy in the Leader’s part of the world in Dunmore East. It is an awful tragedy for one family to bear, to lose three brothers. It shows the danger and risks fishermen in our waters take every time they go out to sea. Our thoughts are with the family today and with the Leader and his colleagues from the Waterford area.

I read with interest the announcement from the Central Bank on its debt pilot scheme which will commence this month. It has met with a degree of criticism from the Irish League of Credit Unions. That said, all schemes that try to assist individuals in debt are welcome but I am sure the Leader would agree there is a proliferation of such schemes currently. We have the mortgage resolution measures from the banks, the Irish Banking Federation agreed steps for those in mortgage arrears, the personal insolvency service and the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, among others. The situation is difficult. I looked at the Insolvency Service of Ireland website this morning on foot of the announcement from the Central Bank and it is quite confusing, even to someone such as I who has a specific interest in the issue. It is difficult to see where one would go to seek advice and in what process one would become engaged. I suggest that in the next couple of weeks we could invite either the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, or the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to the House to debate the various options available for distressed borrowers. The House could do a good job in that regard, in so far as it could tease out what is available and who should go into which process. I further suggest that we could appoint rapporteurs to produce a guide following the debate in Seanad Éireann to provide to individuals in difficulty. It is difficult to know which scheme a person should enter. It would be of value to citizens and to us if we could tease out the matter further and see what options are available next week. I urge the Leader to consider the matter.

I have not had an opportunity up to now to congratulate the new Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Tom Hayes, on his appointment by the Taoiseach. I have no doubt he will do a very good job. I look forward to him coming to the House to debate issues, in particular those of interest to me in the horticultural area. I ask the Leader to convey my congratulations and best wishes to the new Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Like Senator O’Brien, I wish to begin by also offering condolences to the Bolger family from Passage East in Waterford. The accident that happened at sea yesterday was an utter tragedy. All of our thoughts and condolences are with their family.

On a happier note I remind colleagues that today is Yeats Day. Our colleague, Senator Susan O’Keeffe, is in Sligo today and is very involved in the organisation of the day to celebrate the achievements and life of the former Senator, poet and cultural icon, William Butler Yeats. There are lots of plans afoot in Sligo to have celebrations worthy of Bloomsday in Dublin. We all very much hope it will really take off this year and in future years.

I welcome the publication by the Government late last night of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill. We had an extensive debate on the heads of the Bill in this Chamber under the auspices of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. Many colleagues, including me, participated in the debate. It is very welcome to see that the Bill is now greatly improved from the heads we debated during the committee hearings. I am proud that the Government is finally facing up to its responsibility as legislators and putting the Bill before us as legislators. There are key changes in the Bill that will make it a much more effective and accessible procedure whereby women might vindicate their constitutional right to life and whereby the constitutional right to life of the unborn might also be vindicated. Some of the key changes, including the definition of appropriate institutions-----

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Is Senator Bacik debating the matter now?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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We can debate the issue in due course. As I said, there are key improvements in the Bill as published.

In the context of the debate, it is also worthy of note that The Irish Times opinion poll today shows a clear majority support the Bill and for abortion to be legalised in a much wider range of circumstances. I note also that 81% of people are in favour of abortion to be legal in cases of rape.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Is Senator Bacik asking the Leader for a debate?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I seek a debate on the matter.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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It depends on the question.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I seek a debate.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Yes, we will have a debate but not now.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I seek a debate on how we can widen the provision of abortion beyond that which is provided for in the Bill, and which is our responsibility as legislators to provide within the terms of the Constitution.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Bacik is getting worse.

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

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Give an inch and they take a mile.

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 represent the majority of people who want to see abortion legalised on a wider range of terms.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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A Chathaoirligh, on a point of order, we are not having a debate on the matter.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I am asking for a debate.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Bacik is asking for a debate.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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What she is doing is introducing her points in the debate in the House now. It is unfair.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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No, I am not speaking about the Bill anymore.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Bacik is going to bring about a debate on the Order of Business.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does Senator Bacik have a question for the Leader? Senator O’Brien should resume his seat.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I do not interrupt other colleagues. I am perfectly entitled to seek a debate.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does Senator Bacik have a question for the Leader?

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Yes, I do. I have a question for the Leader.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Bacik is monotonous.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I wish to ask the Leader whether we could have a debate after we have passed - as I hope we will – the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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If we pass the legislation.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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After we have passed it.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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If.

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

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Bacik should not be so presumptuous.

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 hope we will pass the Bill.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Bacik hopes it will be passed.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Following that, I wish to ask the Leader for a debate on how we might amend the Constitution to ensure that abortion might be provided in a wider range of circumstances in line with the wishes of the people-----

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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It has already started. One could predict that abortion on demand will be sought.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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-----as expressed in the opinion poll to which I referred and in other opinion polls that were conducted on the question in the recent past.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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Abortion on demand.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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I wish to relate to the House how much the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, appreciated the interventions of this House on the examinations in response to a matter Senator Clune raised on the Adjournment. It is fair to say that he is firmly on the side of students but he will convey the deliberations of this House to the review of what went wrong with the leaving certificate.

I concur with the sympathy expressed by Members to the Bolger family on the tragedy off the coast of Tramore.

Recently, stalwarts on the Government side, including Senator Brennan, and Senator Mooney on this side, have sought the promotion and development of tourism. Part of that is the development of walking. We are aware of the huge success of the Great Western Greenway between Westport and Achill Island. Tourism always needs new products. I remind the House that Deputy Robert Dowd’s walking Bill goes to the Dáil tomorrow. I hope the Bill will go to Committee Stage and that the views of the Members of this House who are so keen to promote tourism will be taken into account. It is important that CIE keeps control of the rights of way attaching to the old railway lines and that local authorities conduct their planning procedures to take account of the possibility of those walks.

I recall a splendid television programme on the Howth peninsula by Senator Quinn, where due to An Taisce, the Great Northern Railway and its successors, and the Gaisford-St. Lawrence family, there is a network of walks. That is a sector of the tourism industry we should develop and I am sure we all hope Deputy Dowds's Bill will progress from the Dáil tomorrow into this House.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the points that were made by Senator O'Brien about the Central Bank and the debt pilot scheme. Everything he said was valid and I urge the Leader to take on board the Senator's recommendation, and I second the call for an early debate on that. We are all aware of the suite of options available - there is varying variety that is widely varying with the differing approaches in different financial institutions. I am not saying we can achieve standardisation but in the interests of the consumer and those affected, there should be better guidance on the way through this maze. I urge the Leader to facilitate that.

I do not want to enter into debate but unlike Senator Bacik, I totally disagree and I would not like to widen in the slightest-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is the Senator seeking a debate?

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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-----in any way the terms in which medically necessitated terminations may be permitted. I would not like to vote for or support abortion in any shape or form. We must be conscious of the parameters and people are trying their best at Cabinet and I support them but there are lines that are drawn in Article 40 and we must be very respectful.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I rise to express my condolences to the family of the three young men lost off the coast of Waterford and would like to use the opportunity to raise the poor system under the current Government and under previous Governments where the fishing industry has become the poor relation in the farming sector. Perhaps today is not the day to call for urgent debates on the fishing industry but we must look closely at marine safety.

I was recently in Castletownbere where a new RNLI station was opened. The guest of honour was none other than Tom McSweeney, a great journalist, writer and broadcaster who presented the wonderful programme "Seascapes". In his oration, if it could be called that, he condemned politicians for neglecting the fishing industry for the last 30 years, which we must admit to, and he made the point that it is only when there are tragedies like this and the Tit Bonhomme in Union Hall that the media take up the flag for the fishermen. Whether it is RTE, The Irish Times or the Irish Examiner, it is always the same when these tragedies occur - there are front page headlines about fishermen and then fishing is forgotten again until the next tragedy. If the media is listening, perhaps RTE could reintroduce a programme like "Seascapes" and have some focus on the fishermen. Some of these young men in my area are those who were forced out of work in the construction industry, have bought small boats and many of them are now fishing lobster, with the end result that lobster will be fished out in the next few years. No one is listening.

Today is not the day to do it but next week or the week after that I will demand that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine come before the House for a broad debate on this topic. Unfortunately only about half a dozen Senators will take part because there is no interest in fishing here either.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I agree with my colleague and friend Senator O'Donovan and others who have spoken the terrible tragedy in Passage East. During the Seanad election, I found it to be one of the most beautiful parts of the country when I visited. I would like to pass on my sympathy to the Leader and my colleagues from Waterford on this appalling tragedy. Coming from an area where fishing is a big business, I know the risks and challenges for those who work in this sector. All we can do is pass on our prayers and thoughts.

At yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, there was an interesting debate on the teaching of history as second level. We should have a debate in this House on that topic. To plan for the future, we must know our past and where we came from, and we must learn about it in an unbiased and factual way. History is an essential subject in the curriculum and I am troubled that there has been a reduction in the number of students taking history as a subject for the leaving certificate. We must look at an alternative way to teach history, recalibrating it into the important position it should have in the second level curriculum.

Feargal Quinn (Independent)
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My attention has just been drawn to the fact the Construction Contracts Bill passed Committee Stage in the Dáil yesterday. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, said he hoped to bring it back to the Seanad after Report Stage. I urge the House to pass this Bill as quickly as possible. It was initiated in this House almost three years ago. It has now completed Committee Stage and must go through Report Stage in the next couple of weeks and I urge the Leader to find the time to get it through this House.

I also wish to offer condolences on the terrible tragedy in Waterford yesterday. Those three men were wearing life jackets but died from hypothermia in the water, which is very sad. We hear so often of fishermen dying, often because they were not wearing life jackets but in this case they were.

We all support the Bill being introduced in the Dáil by Deputy Dowds tomorrow, and I echo Senator Barrett's remarks about the idea of increasing tourism to such a large extent by ensuring we enjoy the right to walk, a right that is being denied in many cases.

Legislation has been enacted in France that will force foreign drivers who had broken the rules of the road to pay the fines in France. This will lead to a €15 million bonus for the French exchequer because so many people do not pay the fines. That is a problem in Ireland, with northern cars coming south and southern cars going north avoiding the payment of fines. We should look at this to ensure foreign drivers coming into this country are forced to pay the fines when they are penalised.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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Senators Barrett and Quinn have raised the question of walkways and tourism, and the utilising of the old railway lines. I am glad to announce that in conjunction with the water augmentation scheme from Cooley to Omeath via Carlingford, a walkway is being built between Carlingford and Omeath.

The walkway will be located along one of the most beautiful and picturesque loughs in the country and it is planned to extend it subsequently across the Border via the Newry Canal and River Clanrye to Portadown. I am not sure how long the route will be, but I expect it will be approximately 40 km in length. The walkway will be a significant tourist attraction for all the towns and villages along the route, from Carlingford and Omeath on the Cooley Peninsula to Newry and beyond. This is another cross-Border initiative which indicates to me and the wider population that peace has returned to this island. I hope we will never have a return to the Troubles. I acknowledge the co-operation of landowners along the route who have facilitated this project, which will provide a tremendous tourism boost for Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I join previous speakers in expressing deep regret at the drowning of Shane, Paul and Kenny Bolger from Passage East in a terrible tragedy off the coast of County Waterford. I extend my condolences to the men's mother, Margaret, two brothers, Michael and Anthony, and two sisters, Linda and Paula. The men belonged to a large family of seven which has been fishing for generations. The death of the three brothers has shocked their family and the wider community in County Waterford. We have had far too many tragedies off the south-east coast.

As the Leader will agree, many issues affect the fishing community but today is not an appropriate moment to raise them. For this reason, I ask him to arrange a debate on the fishing sector at some point in future to allow these issues to be discussed properly. I will, however, refer to one issue that I have raised on three previous occasions, including twice on the Adjournment, namely, the need to improve safety for fisherman. I refer specifically to the introduction of personal locator beacons on the persons of fishermen. I will read a response given by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, when I raised the matter with him last year. He stated:

A second priority will be to encourage the use of personal locator beacons for fishermen on all Irish-registered fishing vessels. These personal locator beacons are designed and operated in accordance with recognised international standards and will be required to be registered with the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. It is intended that my Department will take measures with a view to making the provision of personal locator beacons and vessel beacons mandatory under appropriate legislation and my Department's code of practice for the safety of fishing vessels less than 15 m.

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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Words matter, particularly the words of world leaders. Last week, it was brought to my attention that President Obama spoke a number of weeks ago at an event organised by Planned Parenthood, an organisation which carries out approximately 330,000 abortions each year in the United States. The US President said "God bless you" to the Planned Parenthood meeting and told the organisation he stood with it.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is the Senator seeking a debate on this issue?

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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I learned of this when I heard that a famous American footballer, Matt Birk, refused an invitation to the White House on the basis of the US President's comments. Next week, President Obama will attend the G8 summit on this island. Perhaps someone will ask him what he meant when he used the words "God bless" at a meeting of Planned Parenthood, an organisation which takes 330,000 lives each year.

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

Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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This is a timely warning to all of us that when something becomes lawful, it changes the prevailing culture. My question to the Leader is when the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill, also known as the abortion Bill, will come before the House for debate? Let us be careful in how we proceed in this matter. By making something lawful, we will go down the road of changing our culture of respecting life.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator may make those points during the debate on the Bill.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I share Senator O'Donovan's concern about the continuing lack of media attention on the fishing industry and fully endorse his welcome for the new RNLI station in Castletownbere. My wife, who is a native of the town, was present for the historic moment at which Senator O'Donovan was also present. She was not representing my interests but happened to be in the town.

Yesterday, at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, representatives of the City and County Managers Association pointed out that current Government funding for the maintenance of our local and regional road network, as distinct from the motorway network, is running at 50% below requirements. The meeting heard that without a significant increase in the funding allocation for local authorities, Irish taxpayers will pay an enormous long-term cost to reconstruct roads that have been neglected for years. We will return to the position that obtained in the 1980s when the Government of the day, due to the recession, wilfully neglected the road network. As Senators, especially those who served previously in local government, will be aware, it took almost two decades to restore our local road network and make it fit for purpose. Will the House have an opportunity, prior to the Estimates being decided, to debate this issue, which affects every man, woman and child in the country, with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Finance? While road restoration may not be a sexy subject, if the local and regional road network continues to deteriorate to the extent outlined by the County and City Managers Association, we are in for a difficult time.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I ask the Leader to arrange a debate with the Minister for Finance on sharp practice by banks and other financial institutions. As most people are aware, the Central Bank of Ireland has a code of conduct on mortgage arrears to which the lending institutions are obliged to adhere. It is disturbing to note that they are failing to do so in many cases. Bank customers who find themselves in mortgage distress are not being provided with the correct information on the code of conduct and on the mortgage arrears resolution process, MARP. While it is easy to blame banks in general, in this case the fault lies with individuals in the banks. I would go as far as to argue for sanctions to be applied to staff in lending institutions who are not doing their job correctly. Responsibility lies with regional managers but the ultimate sanction for any lending institution is to have its banking licence removed. While I realise this sanction will not be applied, I call for a debate with the Minister of Finance to ascertain what precisely can be done in respect of bank staff who are not adhering to the obligations set out in the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. Sanctions must be applied to bank employees who act irresponsibly by putting people under pressure and telling them they must sell their family home after six months in arrears. This approach is wrong and unreasonable.

I would like the Minister for Finance to come into the House to debate this issue immediately.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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Following on from Senator Bacik's contribution, I wish every one a happy Yeats's Day and pay tribute to my colleague from Sligo, Senator O'Keeffe, for a great initiative in the setting up of Yeats's Day. It is something that can be grown, not just in terms of a festival for the north west as the contribution of Yeats is something on which Ireland can capitalise throughout the world. We can see the success of the work of Senator Norris with Bloomsday and what that has done for Dublin in particular, as well as the country at large. In that regard, Senator O'Keeffe is owed a debt of gratitude from all of us. Well done to her.

I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on the Haddington Road agreement. Media reports today indicate that there are 350 employees of the HSE who earn more than the Taoiseach. It is particularly unsettling that a full third of the 94,000 employees in the HSE earn less than €30,000 per annum. It is not justifiable to have almost 400 elite members of staff, some of whom are earning up to €400,000. There are quite a few earning €350,000 and a lot earning more than €200,000. There is also a significant number earning more than €80,000. We need to look at rebalancing the pay scales in the public service to make them more consistent. It is right that the salaries of public servants, and politicians in particular, should be reviewed and set independently and reduced in accordance with the demands of the economy of the day. It is one thing to do that in these Houses but we cannot preside over a situation where 30,000 people in an organisation are paid less than €30,000 per annum while a small elite within the same organisation are paid up to €400,000.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I join with my colleagues in sending my condolences to the Bolger family on the awful tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. The tragedy brings home to us the extremely dangerous circumstances in which many people in the fishing industry make their living. I agree with Senator Cullinane that we need to have further discussions in this House on health and safety in the fishing industry. The loss of life on this scale is hugely regrettable.

Like Senator Healy Eames, I very much regret the recent comments of President Obama on the Planned Parenthood organisation, which performed approximately 330,000 abortions last year. I was also disappointed to hear Senator Bacik, on the day that the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill was published, already expressing her wish to extend the scope of that legislation. That is not what most Members of this House want to hear.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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That is not the spirit of what I said at all.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I call on the Leader to organise a debate with the Minister for Health and the Ministers of State at his Department on a number of issues, including the home help scheme, the carer's allowance, the respite grant and the mobility allowance. These are schemes and resources provided to the elderly and those with disabilities. We have scarce resources, as we all know, so we need to ensure that the people most in need receive most support. The aforementioned grants and allowances must be targeted at the most needy and deserving. I welcome the Government's announcement that it will continue to pay the mobility allowance until October. I also note that the Ombudsman gave a cautious welcome to that decision. However, in advance of the inter-departmental review that is taking place, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, we should have an input into the mobility allowance and motorised transport schemes. Members of this House would have good contributions to make which could help to ensure that the schemes are targeted in a way that is most effective and benefits those who require assistance most. We must move away from the situation where the State was in breach of equality legislation, as highlighted by the Ombudsman.

John Crown (Independent)
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We will, in the coming weeks, be celebrating the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's visit to Ireland. Also coming up soon is the 53rd anniversary of the speech President Kennedy made to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association when he was running for the presidency of the United States. He made his speech in September 1960, two months before the election and I wish to quote briefly from it. He stated:

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute; where no Catholic prelate would tell the President - should he be Catholic - how to act and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote ... I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish; where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source; where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials; and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.

I believe that two specific actions should be taken. I do not know if there is a formal mechanism through which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or our local consular office in Boston can express the displeasure of the people of this country at the disrespect shown to our democracy by the boycott of the Taoiseach by the Catholic hierarchy of Boston when he gave the commencement address at Boston College. Second, in the spirit of good fellowship in this and the other House, it would be good to agree a policy of 100% voluntary disclosure of all Members of any support, be it financial or otherwise, they have received from any organisations attempting to influence the vote on this critical measure, which could determine the lives of Irish women.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Ach an oiread le mo chomhghleacaithe, ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a chur in iúl do mhuintir Bolger ó Phort Láirge as ucht an tragóid uafásach a tharla ansin. Tá sé an-deacair duine amháin a chailleadh agus a shamhlú go gcailleofá duine leis an bhfarraige, ach cailleadh triúr deartháir ar an lá céanna. Is uafásach tubaisteach é sin do chuile duine sa chlann sin, dá gcáirde agus dá gcomhghleacaithe agus déanaim comhbhrón leo ar fad.

I am quite concerned by some representations I have received lately about racist comments on social networks. In addition, a television programme broadcast last night showed that racist attacks appear to be increasing, in both frequency and vehemence. This is something that we should not tolerate in this State. The policing of racism on the Internet is a much more complicated issue than it was in the past. The people who have contacted me, for example, regarding racist comments about their neighbours on a particular social networking site were told by the site's operators that the comments would not be taken down, even though they were very serious. The matter has now been passed on to the Garda.

We should debate the issue of racism and how we deal with in this State with the Minister for Justice and Equality. We need to discuss how prevalent racist incidents have become and how this is affecting people. Racism is something that none of us should tolerate and we must keep it on the agenda. In that context, I would be grateful if the Leader would organise a debate on racism, racist attacks and how they can be dealt with, from a legal perspective. I would also include the question of how to deal with racist commentary in any of today's media.

Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
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I join my colleagues in expressing sympathy to the Bolger family on the awful tragedy that has befallen them. I agree with Senator O'Donovan that it is time to focus, on a more regular basis, on the difficult lives of fishermen. Today is not a day to address that issue but we should discuss it on another day.

I worked as a teacher for many years and I witnessed the dumbing down of history as a subject. History is becoming like Greek and Latin, both of which were removed from the curriculum in most instances. The difficulty with history is that students tend not to take it as a leaving certificate subject because they believe it to be of no value to them. However, they are quite wrong in that regard. They also shy away from history in light of the huge workload involved. In comparison with other subjects, it is necessary to spend a tremendous amount of time studying history. Perhaps we might have a debate on the matter.

I welcome the publication of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill and I look forward to a good, sensible, logical and dispassionate debate on it in this Chamber. My party, in its wisdom, decided to have a free vote on the legislation. That means free speech for people on all sides of the House. There are two different views on the legislation within my party and I hope both will be expressed in a balanced way.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I join other Senators in expressing sympathy to the Bolger family on the very tragic loss of Shane, Paul and Kenny.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I also wish to express my sincere sympathy to the mother, Margaret, brothers and sisters and immediate families of Paul, Kenny and Shane Bolger on this extremely tragic occasion. Passage East, Cheekpoint and Dunmore East are closely-knit fishing communities. There is no doubt that what happened has caused great shock and sadness in those villages and among fishing families nationally. On behalf of the House, I express our deep condolences to all involved on their terrible loss.

Senators O'Donovan and Cullinane raised the issue of the fishing industry. I will certainly seek to discover what is the up-to-date position in respect of the personal and vessel location beacons to which Senator Cullinane referred. In the context of the points raised by Senator O'Donovan, a number of weeks ago I indicated that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, will be coming before the House in July to engage in a debate on the fishing industry. That debate, which has been planned for a number of weeks, will certainly proceed.

Senator Darragh O'Brien made a very constructive suggestion with regard to the number of schemes relating to debt forgiveness, etc., of which people may now avail. He also referred to the recent pilot scheme launched by the Central Bank. I will certainly investigate the possibility of proceeding in the way the Senator suggested. The House is due to deal with the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill next week, which will afford Senators the opportunity to express and expound upon their opinions on the pilot scheme. If the matter is not covered sufficiently during that debate, then I will certainly try to facilitate the worthy suggestion made by Deputy Darragh O'Brien.

Senators Bacik and MacSharry welcomed the fact that Yeats Day is being held in Sligo today. The purpose of the day is to celebrate the life and work of the late Senator W. B. Yeats. I am sure the celebration of that great man will constitute a wonderful occasion.

Senator Bacik and others alluded to the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. Senator Healy Eames inquired as to when the Bill will be brought before the House. I understand that this will possibly happen in the second week in July. It will definitely be here as soon as the Lower House has concluded its deliberations on it. I note Senator Bacik's request but following the debate on the Bill, it will be some time before we debate the subject again in the House.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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With the help of God.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Barrett referred to the utilisation of disused railway lines as walkways. He also referred to the legislation introduced by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, in the Lower House. Establishing walkways is a wonderful way to utilise disused railway lines. They are not only being used as walkways. In my constituency, for example, the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway - on which steam trains run - has been mentioned in many tourism documentaries on the BBC and other television stations. The railway lines in question should be utilised for the benefit of the public. I note Senator Brennan's comments regarding the fact that in conjunction with the Cooley-Omeath waterway, a walkway is being put in place between Carlingford and Omeath. The Senator highlighted the co-operation of the nearby landowners, which is extremely important in the context of the develop of walkways throughout the country.

Senators Conway and O'Sullivan referred to the teaching of history. I listened to some of the debate which took place at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. The history teachers present made some excellent presentations on the matter. It would be regrettable if the teaching of history were to decline in any way. If necessary, we will try to facilitate a debate on the matter in this House. First, however, we will wait to see what progress is made on foot of yesterday's submissions from those who teach history and who put forward an excellent case at the joint committee's meeting.

The Construction Contracts Bill at last passed Committee State in the Lower House yesterday evening. I assure Senator Quinn that as soon as Report Stage is completed, we will be facilitating the passage of the Bill through this House.

In note the points made by Senator Quinn in respect of penalty points for foreign drivers and those from north of the Border. I will communicate his views to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Senator Mooney referred to the maintenance of roads. That matter was the subject of discussion at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. I heard part of that discussion. Significant additional funding has been provided in recent weeks. Regardless of the amount of funding provided, there will always be a demand for more. However, I take on board the Senator's point regarding the need to maintain our roads, particular secondary routes.

Senator Michael D'Arcy referred to sharp practice on the part of the banks in the context of their not meeting their responsibilities. I suggest that the Senator make those points to the Minister next week in the context of the debate on the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Bill.

Senator MacSharry referred to the Haddington Road agreement. We engaged in a detailed debate on that matter not so long ago. However, I share the Senator's concern with regard to the extravagant salaries of certain senior staff in the HSE.

Senator Mullins raised issue of the respite grant, which we debated comprehensively last year with regard to the budget. I note also his points regarding the mobility allowance and the motorised transport schemes. The debate on Second Stage of the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will be taken in the House this afternoon and that might be an opportunity for the Senator to discuss those items.

Senator Crown raised the 50th anniversary of the visit of President Kennedy to the country. There are many celebrations planned next week for Wexford, New Ross and Dunganstown in which I am sure many people will want to share. The Senator also noted the 53rd anniversary of the speech the then Senator Kennedy made to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association.

I note the Senator's points on the boycott of the Taoiseach by the Cardinal in Boston and some other groups, which was regrettable. Donations to Members of this House and others is a matter for the Standards in Public Office Commission, which I am sure will be investigated if any problems arise in that regard, but I thank Senator Crown for his comments on that matter.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the question of recent racist attacks in social media in particular. I agree that they must be condemned. It is a very serious matter which the Minister for Justice and Equality has already condemned. If necessary we can have a debate in the House. We will see if the Minister can be made available to attend the House. The State cannot tolerate such racist attacks, be they on social media or whatever media.

I note Senator O'Sullivan's points on the Bill that will come before the House in July. I hope that we will have a respectful debate and that people will respect each other's opinions. Senators on all sides of the House have very different opinions on this issue but I hope we will have a dignified and respectful debate when that Bill comes before the House.