I have received notice from Senator Paschal Mooney that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Social Protection to outline the reason her Department is refusing to provide the necessary funding under the community services programme to provide for the imminent increase in the national minimum wage and to consider the serious impact on the voluntary sector unless she reverses her decision.
I have also received notice from Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh of the following matter:
Go dtabharfaidh an tAire Coimirce Sóisialaí soiléiriú maidir lena bhfuil beartaithe ó thaobh cothrom na féinne a thabhairt do saoistí ar an scéim sóisialta tuaithe i gcomórtas le saoistí na scéimeanna fostaíochta eile a thagann faoina cúram ó thaobh socraithe fostaíochta de.
I have also received notice from Senator Mary Moran of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the position on teaching practice hours for teachers who are pursuing the master's degree in education and already have contract hours in a school.
I have also received notice from Senator Lorraine Higgins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to introduce a salary scale for workers in the child care sector to ensure that, in the interests of quality, qualifications are reflected in the salary achieved for workers.
I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to clarify the reason Xolair, an approved treatment for severe allergic asthma, has not yet been introduced under the HSE drugs payment scheme or reimbursement scheme for persons who are asthmatic.
I have also received notice from Senator Catherine Noone of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline, in view of the perception that there is an increased threat to Ireland from within the Middle East, the security arrangements that have been made in Ireland.
I have also received notice from Senator Averil Power of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to state when he will publish the adoption (information and tracing) Bill; if it will include the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children which called for changes to the draft scheme of the Bill; and if it is expected to be passed into law before the general election.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Paschal Mooney, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Mary Moran and Lorraine Higgins and they will be taken now. Senators Colm Burke, Catherine Noone and Averil Power may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.