I have received notice from Senator Keith Swanick 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 recognise the role of the Institute of Community Health Nursing, ICHN, and to outline the funding his Department has given to the ICHN in the past five years and his plans for the recruitment of public health nurses and to support the ICHN into the future.
I have also received notice from Senator Neale Richmond of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to outline the efforts made by the Government to secure the relocation of the European Medicines Agency to Dublin.
I have also received notice from Senator Máire Devine of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for communities and the national drugs strategy to explain why the post of co-ordinator of the south inner city local drug and alcohol task force which is based in Ballyfermot has been removed without notice and to outline the steps that can be taken to reverse this decision in the interests of the local community and service users.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to make funding available for the completion of the western relief road in Carrigaline, County Cork.
I have also received notice from Senator Catherine Noone of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to examine the high cost of car parking at many public hospitals, especially for long-term illness patients, and if he will consider providing car parking guidelines for hospitals nationwide, with the objective of reducing the cost for long-term illness patients and their families.
I have also received notice from Senator Gerard P. Craughwell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Finance to establish a commission on taxation to review the structure, efficiency and appropriateness of the taxation system.
I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on current ambulance response times in County Monaghan and confirm if there are enough resources in place to prevent further delays.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Keith Swanick, Neale Richmond, Máire Devine and Tim Lombard and they will be taken now. Senators Catherine Noone, Gerard P. Craughwell and Robbie Gallagher may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.