I have received notice from Senator Colm Burke that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to introduce an independent appeals process under the fair deal scheme to allow a right of appeal to nursing home providers who are unhappy with the fee proposed by the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
I have also received notice from Senator Alice-Mary Higgins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to uphold the constitutional requirement to gain Dáil approval for any trade agreement that involves a charge on the State by confirming that she will not agree to or sign up to the invocation of Article 218.5 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or any provisional application of the comprehensive economic and trade agreement, CETA, prior to seeking such Dáil approval.
I have also received notice from Senator Ivana Bacik of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the safeguards and mechanisms in place for ensuring good governance policies and procedures are adopted within national sports organisations funded by the Irish Sports Council.
I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to clarify the position on the extremely disappointing decision of Inland Fisheries Ireland to exit trout production operations in Ireland.
I have also received notice from Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to make a statement outlining his Department's plans to provide capital funding for Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail, Moville, County Donegal, following the fire that destroyed the old Moville boys' school designated as the new home of Gaelscoil Cois Feabhail.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Coghlan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for tourism and sport to outline his plans for the domestic tourism industry in the aftermath of the referendum on UK membership of the European Union.
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 address issues of unfairness and inequality in the abatement of pensions for public servants who gain employment in another part of the public service having retired from their first career.
I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to update the House on the proposed cuts to the service of and funding for Sligo county libraries.
I have also received notice from Senator Paudie Coffey of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the additional investment in laboratory facilities at Waterford Institute of Technology for which he proposes to provide in the Estimates for next year in order that the college will be able to meet the strong demand from the new and extending biopharma companies based in Waterford and the south-east region.
I have also received notice from Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to update the House on plans, following the call made by the Constitutional Convention and recent public remarks made by Ministers, to extend voting rights in presidential elections to Irish citizens living in the North and the diaspora.
I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport to update the House on the proposals his Department has in place to deal with the chronic traffic congestion and safety issues at Blake's Corner, Ennistymon, County Clare, given the recent rejection by Transport Infrastructure Ireland of the proposals submitted by Clare County Council.
I have also received notice from Senator Neale Richmond of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Finance to review the applications process for companies applying for banking licence authorisation.
I have also received notice from Senator Frank Feighan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to look at measures to combat the upsurge in soccer hooliganism in this country, especially in Dublin.
I have also received notice from Senator Kieran O’Donnell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and flood relief to outline the plans he has for the provision of a relocation scheme for those living and working in flood hit areas.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Colm Burke, Alice-Mary Higgins, Ivana Bacik and Robbie Gallagher and they will be taken now. Senators Mac Pádraig Lochlainn, Paul Coghlan, Gerard P. Craughwell, Victor Boyhan, Paudie Coffey, Niall Ó Donnghaile, Martin Conway, Neale Richmond, Frank Feighan and Kieran O'Donnell may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.