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 Justice and Equality to commence the Legal Services Act 2015 which will enable structures to be established for the adjudication of legal costs as there is currently only one taxing master available to do this work.
I have also received notice from Senator Gerard P. Craughwell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline her plans for the introduction and implementation of electronic monitoring.
I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to take action in relation to the lack of GPs across the country, resulting in individuals being unable to obtain appointments, particularly in Cavan-Monaghan.
I have also received notice from Senator Kevin Humphreys of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to inform the Seanad of the ongoing situation in relation to Harold’s Cross greyhound stadium, the steps he is taking to protect the permanent and temporary staff who work there and at Shelbourne Park greyhound stadium and to ensure the local community is consulted about further developments on the Harold’s Cross site.
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 provide an update on the implementation of all of the recommendations of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments.
I have also received notice from Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to provide assurances that additional funding will be available, if needed, to retain all existing courses on the Castlebar campus of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.
I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a statement on the status of the building projects at Ballinspittle national school, County Cork and when it is proposed to make a site visit to progress the building schedule.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Gavan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to discuss the actions he is taking to address the serious and ongoing decline of health services in County Clare, with particular reference to the drastic curtailment of Shannondoc services throughout the county.
I have also received notice from Senator Paddy Burke of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to investigate an issue (details supplied) which has resulted from the reorganisation in 2005 of the health service which abolished individual health boards.
I have also received notice from Senator Rose Conway-Walsh of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to put the Irish Coast Guard on a statutory footing with stand-alone status, properly resourced and with a chain of command structure, especially in the light of the tragedy at Blacksod Bay.
I regard the matters raised by Senators Colm Burke, Craughwell, Gallagher, Humphreys, Boyhan, Ó Domhnaill, Lombard and Gavan as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Colm Burke, Craughwell, Gallagher and Humphreys and they will be taken now. Senators Boyhan, Ó Domhnaill, Lombard and Gavan 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 Conway-Walsh as it is a repeat of a similar matter raised on 15 February 2017. The matter raised by Senator Paddy Burke has been ruled out of order on the grounds that it is sub judice.