I have received notice from Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to confirm if, following the RTE "Prime Time" report on the muscovite mica defective block crisis in County Donegal, he will meet a cross-party delegation from Donegal County Council, as it has requested, and amend the terms of reference of the expert panel investigating this matter and clarify that it can recommend a mica redress scheme to support the families affected to rebuild their homes and make them safe for their families.
I have also received notice from Senator Paddy Burke of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Social Protection to outline the plans, if any, he has to amend the PRSI class K contribution in the next Social Welfare Bill vis-à-vis the wide range of groups that contribute without receiving benefits, including local authority members.
I have also received notice from Senator Kevin Humphreys of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to outline the current position on the co-location of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, with St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4.
I have also received notice from Senator Lynn Ruane of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to outline the reasoning behind the proposed amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Acts and the focus of these amendments on the further criminalisation of drug use and possession.
I have also received notice from Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh of the following matter:
An gá atá leis an Aire Sláinte do thabhairt léargas ar cén straitéis atá á cur ar bun ag an Rialtas chun dul i ngleic leis na liostaí feithimh in Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh.
I have also received notice from Senator Máire Devine of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to outline how his Department intends to deal with the serious concerns being raised by the Psychiatric Nurses Association which have led to planned industrial action.
I have also received notice from Senator Kieran O'Donnell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the current plans for the funding and construction of the M20 - Cork to Limerick motorway.
I have also received notice from Senator Jerry Buttimer of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to make a statement on the ongoing talks between Norwegian Airlines and the US Department of Transportation.
I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to urgently review the guidelines in place for valuing cattle that have been deemed to be reactors following TB testing, as they are clearly inadequate and proving to be a financial burden on farm families.
I have also received notice from Senator Michelle Mulherin of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure the terms of reference for the new tendering process for the issuing of driving licences require all post offices to act as agents, thereby enabling members of the public to obtain driving licences through their local post office.
I regard the matters raised by Senators Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Paddy Burke, Kevin Humphreys, Lynn Ruane, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Máire Devine, Kieran O’Donnell, Jerry Buttimer and Martin Conway as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Paddy Burke, Kevin Humphreys and Lynn Ruane and they will be taken now. Senators Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Máire Devine, Kieran O’Donnell, Jerry Buttimer and Martin Conway may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.
I regret that I have had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Michelle Mulherin on the grounds that the Minister has no official responsibility in the matter.
