David Norris (Independent)
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I join my colleagues in expressing concern regarding the drop in the world ratings of Irish universities. This calls for careful examination of the criteria by which universities are judged. I am unsure whether the Times Higher Education group actually has the right criteria. I am unsure whether it has the tools to measure the performance of the universities. That said, the consistent drop is something and it is substantial in both cases, although Trinity has not dropped quite as disastrously as UCD. Domestic factors are involved in this regard. We are operating at approximately 45% of the state funding of the highest universities. The entire university system has changed since I was an undergraduate in Trinity. The university community is now seven times what it then was, which is an astonishing figure. Moreover, in the case of Trinity, it is on the same small island site, generally speaking. Consequently, the relationship between staff and students has been weakened. In my day, there were three terms, namely, Trinity, Michaelmas and Hilary, there were seven weeks in each term and six students in each tutorial group. The first of the seven weeks was used to discuss the course in general and to pick up subjects on which the student was to write essays, and over the next six weeks, the essays were presented and were critiqued by the academic and student colleagues. I believe this has largely been watered down and I believe it was one of the factors that gave Trinity its pre-eminence. I express concern, therefore, although I am unsure how much can be done in respect of funding. Governments tend to operate on fairly short-term strategies, and as for investing in the universities with the intention of making money, it certainly will but it is a long-term prospect. It is a worrying situation which Members should keep their eye on. I am glad my colleagues have raised this issue.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I would like to think that at this stage, the events of recent days have maxed out, as it were. The fact there has been an explanation, an apology and, much more important, new structures put in place for the further appointments to State boards means there is a sincere and genuine attempt to ensure good and positive politics will be the norm in the future.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I also support my colleague, Senator Mullins, in seeking a debate on farm safety. I was greatly moved recently by an interview on Clare FM, as well as some national interviews given by Eugene Hogan on the tragic death of his brother, Dermot, as a result of a farm accident in County Offaly. I note there have been a couple of tragic farm accidents in County Clare recently. I believe the Seanad has a role to play in examining farm safety and how the number of these unnecessary deaths can be reduced. In this context, I propose today that the Seanad should engage in a public consultation process on farm safety. This would bring in the Health and Safety Authority, those who have found themselves bereaved as a result of farm accidents, as well as the manufacturers of the high-powered machines that are causing many of the farm accidents.

This House has a unique role to play in highlighting this area which is causing a lot of grief and loss of life for our citizens. It would be appropriate for the Seanad public consultation process to be adopted and for the House to hold hearings on this topic. The House has held very successful hearings in the past, particularly in the area of cancer. If the House was to do that, it would make a positive contribution to reducing then number of deaths in farm accidents.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I call upon Senator Wilson.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator O'Donovan that the Taoiseach comes into the House and clears up this unfortunate situation that has arisen in regard to Mr. McNulty who I am sure is an honourable and decent man.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is flogging a dead horse.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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I am disappointed that the Government Chief Whip in this House has referred to the Taoiseach as a dead horse.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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No, far from it.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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It is in fact the Taoiseach-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Senator is misquoting Senator Coghlan.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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It is in fact the Taoiseach's behaviour we are flogging here and we will continue to do so until such time as he clears up this situation regarding a by-election that concerns this House, the Oireachtas and the people of this country. If we have to refer to the Taoiseach as a dead horse, on the insistence of the Government Chief Whip, then we will do so. I would be happy to amend-----

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We know that, Senator. We have moved on from the McNulty issue.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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The issue is a dead horse.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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-----the proposal to the amendments of the Order of Business. I commend Senator Mullen and Senator Conway. They are on script as a result of the four-hour Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting that was held, the emergency meeting that was held last night.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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We are learning from you.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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It is clear that the message from that is to talk up the economy and throw as much dirt as possible at Fianna Fáil.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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That is not a hard job.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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The people are not going to buy it. I was not going to mention the Labour Party, Senator Landy-----

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Go on.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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-----but seeing as you have been so anxious to comment here this morning-----

Denis Landy (Labour)
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You have been goaded.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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-----the members of the Labour Party yet again should hang their heads in shame as a result of the way they have dealt with this situation that effects this House-----

Denis Landy (Labour)
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The only way we would get to look at your eyes is if we held our heads in shame.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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That really is a dead horse.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Acting Leader, a Chathaoirligh, to invite the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney into the House. It is a serious situation to read the reports in the national media over the last number of days regarding the circumstances in which some members of the Defence Forces have found themselves. It is something that has to be addressed and I understand that the Chief of Staff has said that there is not a difficulty. That may be the information that the Minister is receiving from the upper echelons of the Defence Forces but I know from members of the Defence Forces in my own community that they are suffering hardship. Those reports are correct in that considerable hardship is being suffered by members of the Defence Forces, especially those who have had to move from their barracks as a result of closures. They were not made by this Minister but he was a member of the Government that did so. It is important----

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Cathaoirleach is being very generous.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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-----that we invite the Minister in to the House so we can clear up-----

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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However, the Senator is amusing.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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-----this unfortunate situation. Thank you very much.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I find it hard to see Senator Wilson's eyes across the Chamber.

Today, I wish to speak about the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the national dementia strategy. This Government committed, when it took up office in 2011, to publish and carry out a national dementia strategy. A number of steps have taken place since then, including support from Atlantic Philanthropies Ireland in the form of funding, research into the strategy, a call for public submissions and the setting up of an expert working group. We are now at the stage where the strategy should be published. During the summer, the Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for this area, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, announced that Atlantic Philanthropies Ireland were providing €15 million and that the HSE would match this funding to prioritise the rolling out of the strategy which would include GP training, public awareness and intensive home care. As recently as 17 September, the Minister of State announced that the strategy publication date was imminent. I met representatives of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland this week and they are very concerned that the clock is still ticking and that the strategy has not been published.

In view of this I ask the Acting Leader to request the Minister of State to come into the House, preferably with the strategy published or to tell us when it is going to be published and also to outline to us how we are going to roll it out. Many strategies have been published and shelved. However, there is a commitment of €30 million for the strategy to be rolled out. We therefore need to have a discussion and a debate with the Minister of State on this matter. I welcome the opportunity today to call for that. Go raibh maith agat.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I support my colleague's amendment to the Order of Business. The public is becoming increasingly incensed about what is happening. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is a disgrace. She is running away from cameras.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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That is ridiculous.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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She is going into museums not talking to anybody. We saw her on the television running away from a camera. She will not answer any of the questions that have been asked. We saw her here in the Seanad last week when she refused to answer questions. We have seen her avoid the media. We heard from the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night that she read out a script. That is a disgraceful position for a Cabinet Minister to be in.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We are not discussing political party meetings on the Order of Business

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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She needs to come into this House and answer the questions that were asked of her here. She needs to go into the Dáil, to which she is answerable, and answer the questions that are being put. She refuses to do so. Her position is not tenable. It is about time people copped on. There is another stroke about to happen in this game as well. That other stroke is that you are all voting for Mr. McNulty because everyone seems to be quietly telling the media-----

John Gilroy (Labour)
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How do you know?

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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You are all briefing the media that you have already voted, that your are going to vote for Mr. McNulty, and what can be done? That is the second stroke in this game

Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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That is not true.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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While we have 11% unemployment, political games are being played. It is disgraceful. I support the call to have the Taoiseach come in here today. He has answered no question. He has accepted responsibility but we do not know what for.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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When you were appointing your boys to the boards-----

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Do you want me to go through all of what Fine Gael has done?

Denis Landy (Labour)
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Appointing your own to the boards when there was 15% unemployment, some 60 of them in three days

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Landy, please, no crossfire. I now call upon Senator Naughton.

Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the Irish Hotels Federation quarterly barometer survey which was published on the 26 September. It revealed a very strong year for the tourism industry in Galway and beyond. The IHF report highlights the fact that 87% of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation proprietors have increased their business this year. The overall tourism figures are up 10%. It is also good to hear that 97% of the hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation industry considers the Government's introduction of the 9% VAT rate has had a very positive impact on business. This has resulted in 73% of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation proprietors have now hired an additional member of staff in the last 12 months. The IHF notes that since the Government came to office, 23,000 new jobs have been created in the industry and an additional 10,000 indirect jobs are being supported. I congratulate Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, who was the former Minister in this area, for his very successful tenure in this brief. The results of this are now coming to fruition.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the good news about the unemployment rate which is down to a little over 11% from a high of 15%. However, the members of the public would not forgive us if we decided to take our foot off the accelerator. We must ensure that we refocus and re-energise our efforts to make sure that we get that figure down to single digits and that the country gets closer to full employment. I suggest - we have done this before in this House - that we set aside a period of time for a debate on ideas for the forthcoming budget. The budget will be finalised in two weeks' time. We should take the opportunity to bring in the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform - perhaps all three of them should come in for an hour at a time - to put forward ideas that we can generate between now and then.

Perhaps the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, should come before this House for an hour each to put forward ideas. I have received e-mails from people and I am putting them to the Minister. All Senators in this Chamber should come up with ideas for each Minister - a small idea could grow into something bigger that could have a huge impact on our efforts to get people back to work. This is the only game in town, though political games are being played at the moment. The irony of the indignation of my Fianna Fáil colleagues on the other side of the Chamber is not lost on me.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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We never used electoral fraud to get a candidate on a Seanad by-election ballot paper. That is what Fine Gael did.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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No Fianna Fáil Members opened their mouths during the interregnum between Governments when Fianna Fáil stuffed State boards. It was deemed to be acceptable because it was an action by Fianna Fáil. I do not agree with Fine Gael stuffing State boards and I only believe that suitably qualified people should be on State boards as this is the Fine Gael way. The approach taken by the committee on which Senators Brennan and Mooney sit is the way forward.

I repeat that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, must come before this House and before that debate is held we Senators should gather ideas and put them to the Ministers so we can get people back in jobs.

Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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The issue of farm safety has been discussed here this morning by a number of my colleagues and I agree with them wholeheartedly. Some 24 lives have been lost so far this year on farms and that is far too many. I look forward to a discussion in this House on the issue of safety so we can do everything possible to ensure there are no more tragedies affecting farming families. I commend the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, as at the national ploughing championships last week he introduced safety features and grants for farmers who wish to install or repair slats or manhole covers. The safety features he introduced will lower the risks facing farming families and they are welcome. The grants will encourage people to carry out improvements on their farms.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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Senator Byrne is no longer in this Chamber but I was amused by his remarks relating to strokes.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We do not allude to people who have left the Chamber.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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No strokes were pulled. Last night the Taoiseach recommended that Deputies and Senators accede to the wish of Mr. McNulty that we do not vote for him in the forthcoming Seanad by-election. The only stroke pulled here today is the sticking of a poker in the fire to fuel it. There is so much good news in the media at the moment that Senator Byrne is trying to take attention away from this.

Senator Byrne probably got his information on the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, reading a script last night in the media. I was in attendance and the Minister did not read a script. She spoke very well.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We are not discussing part-political issues.

Eamonn Coghlan (Independent)
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I want to discuss the issue of State boards. Last week the development board of the national paediatric hospital appointed a new design team from BDT, a world-renowned firm of architects. The Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, said this is a milestone for the hospital, which is proceeding full steam ahead. We expect planning permission will go through during the summer of 2015 and the first patients will be admitted in 2019. There will be arguments in the coming year over the location - whether it should be on the M50, in Blanchardstown, in the Midlands and so on - but the website for the national paediatric hospital refers to it as a tri-location for paediatrics, maternity and adult health care. The website stresses that the hospital is particularly for children, mothers and neonates.

This is not the first nor second time I have brought this issue to the attention of the Seanad. I must ask the same question for a third time - this time in reference to the remark by the Minister stating "full steam ahead". Will the Minister, the Department and the design team seek planning permission for the maternity hospital at the same time? The hospital is to open in 2019 but I want 20-20 vision on the subject of neonates. It is not acceptable for neonates to be driven by ambulance to the new national paediatric hospital. If planning permission is not sought simultaneously for the maternity hospital it may be too late to seek it when the paediatric hospital is built. Will the Minister seek planning permission for the new maternity hospital? If not, why not?

John Gilroy (Labour)
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Section 836 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for a Minister to be exempt from certain charges relating to the necessity of maintaining a second home in the course of his or her duties. I commend the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, on indicating that he will move quickly to close this obscure loophole. Yesterday in the other House Deputy Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin described this section as "sickening". Perhaps the Leader can ask Sinn Féin whether it was sickening that the body of a disappeared person turned up in a bog in County Meath after 30 years. Words like "sickening" should be reserved for such circumstances. Members of Sinn Féin are apologists for the murderers of the young man in question so they might be a little more circumspect in their parliamentary language.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Senator O'Donovan raised the John McNulty saga and confessed to eavesdropping and listening in corridors after the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting. I have no comment on his eavesdropping skills but my view on this issue has been expressed consistently on the record on a number of occasions. I have serious concerns about the manner and timing of the appointment of Mr. McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, IMMA, but things have moved on. Mr. McNulty has indicated he does not want people to vote for him and the Taoiseach has advised Fine Gael members not to do so and to respect Mr. McNulty's wishes. We will have to consider how we vote, in accordance with the secret ballot, and I know the Clerk of the Seanad has sent instruction on this to all Senators. In the circumstances I will not accede to the amendment sought by Senator O'Donovan.
Yesterday I asked the Leader for a debate on the new mechanisms announced by the Minster, Deputy Howlin, which received Cabinet approval this week. It is historic that the Government has now agreed to a revised model for ministerial appointments to State boards that will resolve this ongoing issue at last. As Senator Mooney very fairly acknowledged, it has been an issue that has affected many Governments. This week's decision ensures there will be a structured approach requiring that all appointments to vacancies on State boards must be advertised openly on the State boards portal, stateboards.ie, operated by the Public Appointments Service. There will be specified and detailed criteria for the effective performance of a role and these may be determined by a Minister, if necessary. Applications will be processed through a transparent assessment system designed and implemented by the independent Public Appointments Service.
I welcome these changes and some colleagues gave examples of existing good practice whereby different committees scrutinised appointments and made them in a transparent and objective manner. The Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality scrutinised the membership of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and we found it a very useful exercise. I hope there will be more of this as it is clear there will be a very different system in all Government appointments.
Senator Paul Coghlan commented on the flogging of a dead horse and referred to the new planning Bill that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, is publishing today. It is an important Bill that will make significant changes and improvements to the planning regime, particularly by allowing for the imposition of vacant site levies by local authorities, which will free land for building. The focus the Bill is allowing the construction of housing at a swifter rate than heretofore.
Senator Barrett referred to the decline in Irish university rankings evidenced in the publication of The Timeshigher education rankings. As others said, like opinion polls, these rankings always come with a health warning. There are questions about the criteria used and different ranking systems use different criteria. The staff-student ratio is only one criterion as is the area of academic citation.

Everybody who contributed on this did so in a measured fashion, which is appropriate. While UCD has, unfortunately, fallen in the rankings it is still among the top 200. Also, it is not true to say there have been dramatic or consistent falls in respect of other institutions. For example, Trinity College, which was already out of the top 100 has fallen from 129th to 138th in today's ranking, which, while regrettable, is a relatively small fall. If it was an opinion poll it would be said that it was within the margin of error. It is important to say that NUI Galway has moved upwards and is now the third ranked university in Ireland. Also, the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland has for the first time entered the top 400. It should not be forgotten that there are more than 15,000 universities represented in the rankings. It is important to bear all this in mind when commenting.

I am happy to support the call by Senator Sean Barrett that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, be asked to come to the House for a debate on the third level sector generally and the many factors that dictate the ranking and status of different universities. This is not just an issue of resources but the structure of universities and the systems in place and so on.

Senator Mullins referred to Fianna Fáil's history in terms of the filling of board positions with its supporters. The figures, in terms of Fianna Fáil's approximately 272 appointments to State boards during its final four months in government from December 2010 to March 2011, speak for themselves. That is an important figure.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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They had to be made.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It should also not be forgotten-----

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order, the Deputy Leader is being selective. A similar number of appointments to State boards were made by the last rainbow coalition in 1997 during its dying days in government.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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That is not a point of order.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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As I said earlier, it is important people are objective and fair-----

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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That is not a point of order and the Senator should resume his seat.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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-----and not engage in political point scoring, which is what is being done now.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I acknowledged that Senator Mooney took a much more measured approach to this issue than many of his colleagues.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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With respect, it is a much more measured approach than that being taken by the Deputy Leader.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It is important to put on the record the large number of appointments made.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I will put it on the record next week.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Balance is important.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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Next week I will quote the figures in respect of the appointments made by the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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How many of those appointments had to made?

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Deputy Leader is trying to respond to the questions asked.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps the Deputy Leader will say how many of the appointments made at that time had to be made.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Wilson, please allow the Deputy Leader to respond to the questions asked by Members.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It is interesting to note that less than one-third of all appointments by Fianna Fáil during its 14 years in government were women. I agree there is a need for the appointment of more women and to ensure a better gender balance in terms of State appointments.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy Leader should have a word with the Taoiseach.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I hope that will be the result of the new measures to be introduced by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, which recently received full Cabinet approval.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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He has a great record with regard to women, professionally, of course.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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Senator Mullins also welcomed the decrease in unemployment as set out in the live register statistics. It is genuinely a good news story that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 11.1%, down from a crisis peak of 15.1% in 2012. It is hugely significant that there has been a 9% year-on-year decrease in unemployment, with long-term unemployment having decreased by 5.5% year on year. I know everyone in the House will welcome this. It is hoped this pattern of decreases will continue into the future. As I said, this issue was also fairly noted by Senator Mooney.

Senator Mullins asked that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, be invited to the House for a debate on jobs and job creation. Previous debates on this issue in the House have proved very useful. I will ask the Leader to facilitate such a debate.

Senator Mullins also referred to the tragic deaths in recent times on farms. We were all heartbroken to hear about the two little girls involved in the accident on a farm in Cork. The Senator's suggestion that primary schools educate children about farm and road safety is a good idea. It might be worthwhile for the Senator to raise that matter with the Health and Safety Authority.

I have responded to some of the questions raised by Senator Mooney in his contribution. I note the Senator also welcomed the new model launched by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, this week, which marks an historic change in the system of appointments to boards. We should all applaud the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and Government in this regard.

Senator Mooney also referred to the appointment of the new US ambassador to Ireland. Unlike here, ambassadors in the US are political appointees rather than civil servants. We do not have the same system as the US in terms of the election of judges and prosecutors. There are many ways in which our system bears much better scrutiny.

Senator Hayden also spoke about and called for a debate on the third level institution rankings. As I said, it would be good to have the Minister, Deputy O'Sullivan, come to the House for such a debate and, in particular, the report on third level funding, publication of which we would all welcome.

Senator Quinn also spoke about the university rankings and the importance in the context of foreign direct investment of high standards in our universities. He also referred to Tom Boland's important statement that rankings are not the only measurement and that there are other criteria used, some of which may be flawed.

Senator Quinn also referred to the issues of cigarette smuggling and diesel laundering in north Louth and south Armagh and spoke of the tragic death of Garda Adrian Donohoe as being a catalyst for change. I agree with him on that. Next Tuesday the Minister for Justice and Equality will be in the House for the Second Stage debate on the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014, which might present an appropriate opportunity for the Senator to raise his concerns relating to the particular area of the country mentioned. It should be possible to introduce measures that might be of assistance, although I suspect what is needed is policing strategies and measures rather than legislative ones. It is an important issue which was brought home in the context of the tributes paid yesterday in this House to the late former Senator Edward Haughey who as a major employer brought so much prosperity to the south Armagh area. That is perhaps a better way of dealing with these issues than the vehicle of terrorist legislation.

Senator Brennan spoke about the appointments to the RTE Authority and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which again are examples of good practice in terms of the nominees having been required to engage in a process of hearings-----

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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That process was introduced by Fianna Fáil.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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-----following which 129 applicants where whittled down to eight. It is important that this House gives credit to good practice regardless of by whom it was instituted or which committee engages in it. The media does not pay enough attention to the many Ministers who have been utilising this open and transparent system of State board appointments.

Senator Brennan also expressed the hope that the planning Bill would come before this House soon and called on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to the House to address the unauthorised developments issue. The Minister will be before the House on the planning Bill at which time issues such as the vacant site levy and Part V social housing issues can be addressed.

Senator Norris also spoke about the university rankings. I agree with his comments in regard to the need for careful examination of the criteria being used in that regard. It is also important to say that in Ireland there have been positive increases in recent years in the numbers of students attending third level education. Ireland has one of the highest proportions of third level graduates across the EU, which is something of which we should be very proud. Our universities are doing a very good job in terms of raising educational standards in Ireland generally. When looking at criteria across other countries, it should be remembered that other countries may have much lower levels of participation in third level than is the case in Ireland. We have also seen considerable success here in terms of the roll-out of campus companies from different universities through good use of philanthropy and philanthropic funding.

Senator Conway welcomed the new structures in regard to appointments to State boards as positive politics, with which I agree. He also put forward important ideas in relation to how we deal with accidents on farms and address the issue of farm safety generally. The Senator also called for the Seanad to play a role in this regard and for the Seanad Public Consultation Committee in particular to take it on as its next topic for consultation, which I believe is a good idea. I would advise the Senator to communicate with the Cathaoirleach on the matter and I will undertake to raise it at the next meeting of the Public Consultation Committee that this be the next issue it addresses. I agree it is an appropriate forum to try to come up with ideas for the better dissemination of the message on farm safety. The Health and Safety Authority advertising in this regard is very powerful, but clearly more needs to be done.

Senator Wilson spoke about the McNulty affair and wilfully misquoted Senator Paul Coghlan on the issue of the dead horse, which I do not propose to go over again.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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The record will speak for itself.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I propose to ignore Senator Wilson's gratuitous comments about the Labour Party.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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Everyone else is ignoring the Labour Party so it does not matter.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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It is nice not to be ignored. Senator Wilson also raised the plight of Defence Forces personnel. I am sure all of us, on reading some of the reports from the Defence Forces representatives organisation, would share his concern. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has said that he has not received representations on that matter. He will be in the House next Wednesday at which time these matters can be raised with him.

Senator Landy raised the issue of the national dementia strategy, in respect of which issue on Tuesday last I asked the Leader for a debate and commended the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland on its work in this area. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, will be requested to come to the House to update us on that strategy.

Senator Thomas Byrne also raised the issue of the McNulty affair. I have responded on that issue. As I said at the time the Minister of State, Deputy Heather Humphreys was in the House, we should have a general debate with her on the different issues to do with the arts. We have considerable expertise in this area in the Seanad, in particular, Senator Mac Conghail. It would be worthwhile having such a debate.

Senator Naughton spoke about the Irish Hotels Federation quarterly barometer survey which again was a good news story. The Senator noted that there had been a 10% increase in tourism figures last year and pointed to the success of the 9% VAT rate in this area. I commend the Senator on raising this important issue less than two weeks out from the budget. Continuation of the reduced VAT rate is one of the key issues we hope to see addressed in the budget. I am sure everybody in the House would agree.

Senator Michael D'Arcy also spoke about the good news story of the decrease in the unemployment figures and suggested we have a debate on ideas for the budget and job creation, which debate would be well worth having, even after the budget.

We should have that debate on job creation. I note really creative ideas, for instance, around apprenticeships. There was good news yesterday, when Waterford Crystal has for the first time in years taken on new apprentices in the high-skilled glass-blowing sector. That is really positive news for Waterford and the south east to see that recommencing. We might have a useful debate on that with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton. We will also have statements on the budget on 14 October and Deputy Bruton has promised to come into this House shortly after Halloween to a debate, as we might focus on job creation with him.

Senator Comiskey raised farm safety and I have already spoken on that.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan, on the McNulty affair, pointed out the Taoiseach had recommended to his members not to vote for Mr. McNulty to respect his wishes. The Senator also spoke on the board of the paediatric hospital and the issue of planning for a maternity unit at the same time as planning permission is submitted for the children's hospital. It is an excellent idea to ask the Minister that. It might be done as a matter on the Adjournment. I was personally involved with the submission from the Coombe hospital, which looked to have the sight of the children's hospital co-located with the Coombe. There is a plan to develop the Coombe hospital, which is a maternity hospital local to the St. James's site that was ultimately chosen. It is possible to open up a swift corridor between the two sites and that might be something the Senator could pursue directly with the Minister.

Senator Gilroy pointed out that section 836 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 was an obscure anomaly which appeared to allow Ministers to be exempt from certain charges. I would agree with Senator Gilroy and commend the Minister, Deputy Noonan, and the Government for closing this loophole swiftly when it became apparent. Sinn Féin did attempt to make some political mileage out of it but I would agree with Senator Gilroy that the term sickening is far more appropriate to use about that party's own actions. That really came home to us all when we saw Brendan Megraw's body discovered finally 36 years after his disappearance, and after his mother had died. Hearing his family speak about the heartbreak they have been through in the past 36 years brought home to all us what sickening really means.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Denis O'Donovan has moved an amendment to the Order of Business: “That the debate with the Taoiseach on the appointment of Mr. John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Yes.