I have received notice from Senator Paul Gavan that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to confirm how many of the 19 separate recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions in the 2015 report on the direct provision system have been introduced and, in the case of the recommendations which have not been introduced, the reasons for it.
I have also received notice from Senator Jennifer Murnane O’Connor of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Finance to ensure the introduction of first-time buyer's tax relief is extended to those who have had to surrender their home on foot of a court order.
I have also received notice from Senator Gerard P. Craughwell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the reason the agreement between the INMO, PNA and SIPTU nursing unions and the HSE and the Department of Health to restore the recognition of the 36-week internship from 2011 was changed without consultation.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to review and reduce the current 22-month waiting time for psychology services in the Cork and Kerry community health organisation.
I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to liaise with IDA Ireland with a view to securing a suitable tenant for the vacant premises formerly known as the Bose factory in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.
I have also received notice from Senator Maura Hopkins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to outline the measures the Government is implementing to improve ambulance response times in rural areas, particularly those which have been identified as black spots as regards ambulance response times, in accordance with the National Ambulance Service of Ireland emergency service baseline and capacity review 2015 and the Health Information and Quality Authority's 2014 review of pre-hospital emergency care services to ensure high quality in the assessment, diagnosis, clinical management and transporting of acutely ill patients to appropriate health care facilities.
I have also received notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to give approval to increase the herring quota under the Celtic Sea herring management plan for the Dunmore Box in order to compensate for the loss of herring quota in 2015.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Paul Gavan, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Gerard P. Craughwell and Tim Lombard and they will be taken now. Senators Robbie Gallagher, Maura Hopkins and Brian Ó Domhnaill may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.