I have received notice from Senator Neale Richmond that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to take action to prevent and tackle gorse fires.
I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for food, forestry and horticulture to report on progress to maximise the range and volume of products that carry the Bord Bia quality mark on the retail shelf in line with one of the key horticultural objectives set out in the Bord Bia, Irish Food Board, Strategy Statement 2016 to 2018.
I have also received notice from Senator Frank Feighan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Finance to ensure that all necessary resources are available to the Revenue Commissioners in order to protect the livelihoods of solid fuel traders located near the Border in light of the price differential in the North and the continued threat of fuel smuggling.
I have also received notice from Senator Keith Swanick of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to work directly with the Irish Coast Guard to introduce legislation to place the Coast Guard on a legislative footing, similar to all the other emergency services.
I have also received notice from Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to give an update on the status of the Holy Angels new school building and the current position in relation to funding.
I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to introduce a mechanism whereby the traditional block grant given to town councils to cover improvements to roads and footpaths be reinstated in its original format in order to allow members of municipal districts to decide the spending of moneys on roads and footpaths in the same way town councils did in the past.
I have also received notice from Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh of the following matter:
An gá atá ann go dtabharfaidh an tAire Tithíochta, Pleanála, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil soiléiriú ar cad iad na cosaintí atá ann chun a chinntiú nach bhféadfaidh fostaithe de chuid údaráis áitiúla tithe a leithroinnt faoi aon cheann de na scéimeanna a riarann siad ar fhostaithe eile san údarás áitiúil céanna de shárú ar na critéir atá leagtha síos, cé mhéad cás den chineál seo atá tagtha chun solais agus cad iad na húdaráis áitiúla atá i gceist.
I have also received notice from Senator Maura Hopkins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue project and if the necessary capital funding has been allocated to the project.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Daly of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, having introduced regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 that require the compulsory housing of poultry as a result of the increased threat of H5N8 avian bird flu, to state what provisions will be taken for free range enterprises if this compulsory housing period reaches 12 weeks, as after 12 weeks continuous housing they lose their free range status.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to clarify whether there are any plans to upgrade the Garda station in Timoleague, County Cork.
I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the current position on funding being provided for a new primary school, Scoil an Athar Tadgh, in Carrignavar, County Cork, and to confirm that it will proceed to the tendering process early in 2017.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Richmond, Boyhan, Feighan and Swanick and they will be taken now. Senators Murnane O’Connor, Conway, Ó Clochartaigh, Hopkins, Daly, Lombard and Colm Burke may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.