I have received notice from Senator Jillian van Turnhout that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to outline how his Department plans to work with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure children's rights are promoted and protected in the light of Dáil na nÓg's most recent theme on the need for young people to have a stronger voice in their education in school and in respect of the launch in 2015 of Equate, a new NGO which puts the best interests and voice of the child at the centre of debate on equality in education.
I have also received notice from Senator Gerard P. Craughwell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to legally define the difference between a chartered physiotherapist and a physical therapist.
I have also received notice from Senator Cáit Keane of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to strengthen measures relating to the welfare of horses.
I have also received notice from Senator Denis Landy of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Defence to make part of the vacant Army barracks in Mullingar available to the Irish United Nations Veterans Association through a long-term lease to ensure a permanent meeting place for retired soldiers.
I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to allocate funds to local authorities for house adaption works and to ensure that, when the funds are allocated, local authorities will have absolute discretion in deciding the amounts to be allocated for local authority and private housing.
I have also received notice from Senator Marie Moloney of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Social Protection to state if she has proposals to include unregistered unemployed persons in activation programmes.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Jillian van Turnhout, Gerard P. Craughwell, Cáit Keane and Denis Landy and they will be taken now. Senators Colm Burke and Marie Moloney may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.