I have received notice from Senator Ivana Bacik 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 outline when he intends to bring forward legislation to change the criteria for medical training in order to alter the eligibility requirements for doctors in Ireland from non-EU countries to enter specialist training programmes here.
I have also received notice from Senator Michelle Mulherin of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to address issues which are adversely affecting sustainability in the provision of quality child care in the State, including fair pay, terms and conditions for child care professionals, workers and service providers and affordability for many parents.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to reconsider the submission of Scoil Eoin, Innishannon, County Cork to allow for the construction of two classrooms.
I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the Government’s promise to take 4,000 refugees and asylums seekers into Ireland by September 2017 under the Irish refugee protection programme in view of the fact that to date the Government has only accepted 1,238; and to ask if she will outline the Government’s intention to get this commitment back on track.
I have also received notice from Senator Maria Byrne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the measures his Department has in place to support the recruitment of farm labour through the Farm Relief Service.
I have also received notice from Senator Maura Hopkins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of resources for home help and home care packages in County Roscommon; and the need for the provision of further funding for these services.
I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to clarify the current position on the number of medical consultant vacancies in hospitals; and the changes his Department proposes to make in order to overcome the current shortfall which is reported to be in the region of 400.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Ivana Bacik, Michelle Mulherin, Tim Lombard and Victor Boyhan and they will be taken now. Senators Maria Byrne, Maura Hopkins and Colm Burke may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.