Next week's debates
The Leader confirmed that the House would sit three days the following week and said the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill would resume. He also undertook to arrange debates on disability transport issues and the National Transport Authority, which Senators welcomed.
-----when we can do other work on other days. That is why next week we will sit three days and will do so between then and Christmas. Last week we held a very good international conference that made international headlines. It put a spotlight on the role of the Oireachtas and I do not make any apology for it. As Senator Norris knows as father of the House, and as those who have been members of the Government and Government Whips know, we have asked for legislation to be initiated in the Seanad and we will continue to do so.
To be fair, we do our business reasonably well in progressing legislation, with the exception of one Bill that we will not mention now.
Comment on this
We will mention it next Tuesday.
Comment on this
We will. The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017 will be discussed in the House next week and I look forward to the resumption of that debate.
Comment on this
Senator Conway also made reference to the issue of the personal assistant hours and the issue of the use of transport. I would be happy for the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, to come to the House to debate that issue. I do not have an answer for the Senator on the issue of Achill Island and direct provision.
Senator Gallagher raised the ongoing issue of the National Transport Authority and we will have a debate on transport with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, next week in the House so perhaps the Senator can raise that issue again on that occasion.
I commend Senator Feighan for his role in highlighting the issue of integrated education in the North. Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell raised the issue of being in the elder category by referencing her "own pathology" as she said herself. It is an important topic and I know she has been the author of a report on the matter. I would be happy to have another debate on the provision of care. I have already addressed the point she makes on the banks and the USC.
I want to say to Senator Humphreys again that this Government and Fine Gael are not anti-Dublin at all. In fact it is quite the contrary.
I would be happy to have a debate on the work of the Law Reform Commission and the ongoing issues around that as raised by Senator Bacik.
Senator Mulherin raised the issue of climate action in terms of empowering young people and she made some good points. It is important that perhaps as part of the work of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee we would separately look at doing something around the issue of empowering young people. It is a good point.
Senator Lombard commended the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, on the opening of new beef markets in China, where the Minister is on a trade delegation at the moment. I commend and welcome the good news for the beef industry, which has been through a challenging period.
I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence and I hope I did not go on too long for him.