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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Direct provision and related debates

Summary

The Leader supports a debate on the direct-provision report, notes the return of the Industrial Relations Bill, and responds to an intervention about pancreatic services.

Senator Ivana Bacik, among other Senators, referred to the commemoration event proposed by members of the Bosnian community. I believe all Senators would want to support that event.

The Senator also called for a debate on the recently published report on direct provision. I will try to arrange such a debate before the recess.

The Senator also referred to the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill which was before the House yesterday and will be brought before us again. I imagine amendments on any of the issues to which she referred would be most welcome and I am sure the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation would consider them on Committee and Report Stages.

The Senator also clarified the position on the Bill mentioned by Senator David Norris, the Government's civil marriage equality Bill, which has been held up.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton referred to the greenway project in east County Galway, a matter Senator Rónán Mullen discussed at length yesterday. Engagement and consultation are the only solutions in dealing with these issues. I hope consultation will continue and that an amicable agreement will be reached.

Senator Terry Leyden referred to a number of matters that were raised yesterday and offered some advice to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Officials in the Department have done a terrific job in recent weeks in response to a number of tragedies. It deserves our praise and would I am sure welcome suggestions people might have to make.

Senator David Cullinane asked me a question about the civil debt Bill, but he is not present to hear the answer. While dates have not been confirmed, the legislation will more than likely be brought before the House before the recess.

The Senator also spoke about speakers being shouted down. Nobody is shouted down in this House, although there appears to be a great deal of shouting and bullying in Sinn Féin in east Cork. I will not refer further to that matter.

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It is not only in east Cork that it is happening.

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