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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Vol. 253 No. 2

Business of Seanad

I have received notice from Senator Máire Devine that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Health to give an update on the opening of the ten-bed unit at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum.

I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter:

The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for defence to give details of the regulations governing the leave of members of the Defence Forces and the plans, if any, he has to amend the Workplace Relations Act 2015 with regard to annual leave for members of the Defence Forces.

I have also received notice from Senator Neale Richmond of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the status of the proposed Celtic interconnector.

I have also received notice from Senator Alice-Mary Higgins of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Social Protection to outline her intentions regarding the implementation of the recommendations made in the social protection report on the position of lone parents in Ireland, including the recommendation to allow lone parents to remain on the jobseeker's transition payment until their youngest child reaches 18 years.

I have also received notice from Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the impact the roll-out of the public services card may have on Irish citizens who are resident in the Six Counties and wish to apply for and obtain an Irish passport, as is their right under the terms of Good Friday Agreement.

I have also received notice from Senator Kevin Humphreys of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline the reason for the delay in bringing forward legislation in respect of affordable rental housing.

I have also received notice from Senator Rose Conway-Walsh of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to support native breeds of livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, horses and ponies and greater regard for them in national policy and conservation measures.

I have also received notice from Senator Maura Hopkins of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the work being done to promote the midlands as a tourist destination.

I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Máire Devine, Robbie Gallagher and Neale Richmond and they will be taken now. The matter raised by Senator Alice-Mary Higgins had been selected, but she subsequently withdrew it. I understand the Minister was not available. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.

I remind Senators that they have four minutes in which to outline their case and the Minister has the same amount of time in which to reply. A brief supplementary question will be allowed at my discretion. Yesterday the debate on one of the matters raised went on for double the time allowed and I received complaints.

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