Peter Burke, TD

Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy, Derek Keating, has welcomed the announcement that almost €0.5 million has been approved, under the Rural Development Programme, for the development of St. Catherine’s Park, at Lucan, Co. Dublin. The funding, which must now go back to the Fingal LEADER Partnership for final approval, will be used to build a new playground, a skate park and a BMX trail.

Fine Gael Cork North West Deputy, Áine Collins, has today (Wednesday) said the development of a new prison for Cork will enhance the living conditions of prisoners and will help us to meet our national and international obligations to detainees, many of whom are currently residing in substandard conditions.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, for his presence. The proposed 32nd amendment to the Constitution provides the opportunity for the people to have their say on this debate. Given the current Government's commitment to have this discussion and this referendum in 2009, followed by its inclusion in the election manifesto of a number of parties, I see no difficulty in putting this question to the people to ascertain what the response will be.

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline in tabular form the current strength of An Garda Síochána in the Balbriggan (Y) District, Dublin; the number of vehicles allocated; the number of Garda reserves present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there will be a recognition in her plans for reform of childcare and pre school care facilities for staff members who may have been working in childcare for an appropriate number of years to receive an exemption from the FETAC level five qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there will be a recognition in her plans for reform of childcare and pre school care facilities for staff members who may have been working in childcare for an appropriate number of years to receive an exemption from the FETAC level five qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Fine Gael Dublin South TD, Olivia Mitchell, has today (Tuesday) expressed her reservations about the abolition of the Senate. Speaking in Dáil Éireann on the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013 Deputy Mitchell said: "I certainly don't dispute the need for reform and I know there is a perceived need and temptation in difficult times to streamline everything, even democracy. But abolishing the Senate is fairly dramatic and far reaching.

With the Taoiseach and most people in this country I fully appreciate the need to reform our political system so that we can give full expression to our democracy. I do not subscribe to the view that ours is the worst political system but neither is it the best that it can be and when it was really put to the test no one can deny that it massively failed the people in neither preventing nor even anticipating the economic bust that has visited such hardship on all of our people. It is that failure that has underpinned the consensus around the need for reform of our politics and probably for radical change. What is not so clear, though, is how that should happen and what form it should take.