Senator Darragh O'Brien struck a chord when he called for a debate on An Bord Pleanála and planning in general. It was supported by several other colleagues and is a good topic for a debate in the new year. On 6 February, the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is scheduled to speak on housing and the private rented sector in the House. We might also cover planning issues in this debate given the concerns raised this morning.

Senator Darragh O'Brien, along with every other Member, said he would not speak about today's budget but mentioned it later on. There will be statements on the budget later. There is a general consensus on both sides of the House that the hallmark of this budget should be fairness. We all very much hope that this will be the case. Senator Darragh O'Brien also sought a debate on palliative care. The Leader had previously given a commitment on this and I will speak to him on it.

Senator Paul Coghlan again mentioned the budget and the need for fairness, a point which is generally agreed.

Senator van Turnhout called for a debate on the new child and family support agency. Previously, the Leader and I had given a commitment to have the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs attend the House after the children's rights referendum for a general debate on forthcoming children's rights legislation and child protection. I will speak to the Leader again about organising that debate early in the new year.

It is overdue.

Senator Norris called for fairness in today's budget. Senator Hayden raised the issue of the UN climate conference in Doha and rightly pointed out how it is pertinent considering the appalling tragedy that has occurred in the Philippines with 230 people presumed dead as a result of flash flooding, with a school and an evacuation centre among the buildings that have been wiped out. This brings home the potential impact of climate change, particularly in developing countries. I agree we should have a debate in the new year on climate change. Colleagues will be aware that in 2007 I initiated the first climate protection Bill as a Private Members' Bill in the Seanad. Legislation in this area is a commitment in the programme for Government. It is important the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government attends the Doha conference on the UN framework convention on climate change, particularly as it will fall to the Irish EU Presidency to lead the EU's follow-up work on it in the first half of 2013.

It is a very important conference.

In addition, Ireland is involved in a large number of meetings at Doha, apart from the main convention, working with the current EU Presidency of Cyprus, the Council secretariat and the Commission while conducting bilateral engagements with delegations from other parties. We are all very hopeful for an international agreement on climate change but we also need to move forward on our commitments at home.

Senator MacSharry raised the issue of primary care centres. The Leader previously gave a comprehensive answer on this issue.

There were new revelations. I am sure the Deputy Leader would like to comment on them.

I will speak with the Leader about this issue because it was also raised by Senator Healy Eames.

Senator Conway raised the matter of An Bord Pleanála's decision on a pier at Doolin and the Aran Islands. This might be a matter more suitable for the Adjournment.

Senator Cullinane proposed an amendment to the Order of Business seeking a longer debate tonight on the budget. We have allocated two hours. As the Senator is aware, we also have to resume Committee Stage of the Personal Insolvency Bill after these statements, so time is tight. I am also told that last year two hours was allocated for the debate on the budget but only 12 Senators contributed, most of them Government Senators.

Check the record.

Two hours is more than adequate and I cannot agree to this amendment.

Senator Gilroy, along with other colleagues, called for debates on banking policy and debt. We could have those in the new year, so if Members do not get to speak tonight, they will be able to contribute at a later date.

Senator Landy spoke on the need for the enforcement of planning regulations. This might be covered in the debate in the new year with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.

Senator O'Sullivan asked about the report on the boundaries for local elections. I understand that the commission is due to report at the end of March. He also raised the issue of gangland crime. I agree entirely with his concerns, particularly after yesterday's shooting in broad daylight in Clontarf. We might arrange a debate on crime and the approaches to gangland crime in the new year.

Senator Mullins asked for a debate on job potential in the restaurant and hospitality industry, a good idea especially in light of next year's The Gathering. He also raised the matter of the shortage of chefs and the potential for job creation in this area.

Senator Quinn raised the issue of the delay in the introduction of the post code system. I was not aware that that much money had already been spent on it. It is worth checking the reasons for the delay with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. He also raised the delay in the Construction Contracts Bill which has been raised as a matter on the Adjournment by Senators Higgins and Heffernan.

Senator Gilroy called for a debate on banking and debt strategy in the new year. This would be useful as it is often presumed there is a link between promissory notes and today's budget. This shows a lack of understanding when people make an automatic conflation of those two matters.

Senator Ó Domhnaill spoke about property tax and supported the proposal for a debate on climate change. Senator Clune spoke of the need for a debate on the sale of alcohol which was supported by Senator Noone. The Minister of State with responsibility for this area, Deputy Alex White, could attend the House on this matter in the new year. We had a debate with the former Minister, Deputy Shortall, but it would be worth having a debate with the Minister of State, Deputy White, to see where the proposals for legislation are at.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh called for a debate on corruption in light of today's Corruption Perceptions Index report. This would be useful and I commend the work of Transparency International in highlighting this issue. Again, it is another debate we could have in the new year. I am not sure who would be the appropriate Minister to take such a debate. It might be the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Any former Fianna Fáil Minister will do.

Senator Gilroy makes a very fair point, I think.

Does he really?

We had the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, in specifically on the Mahon tribunal and issues around corruption and planning. So, there are several different Departments which have responsibility in this area.

Senator Brennan raised the matter of sports capital grants which he might raise directly with the Minister of State with responsibility in this area, Deputy Ring. Senator Daly raised the promissory notes and displayed a certain amnesia through his comments on the property tax which Senator Keane pointed out. It is interesting that Fianna Fáil seems to conveniently forget it was in power when the troika came in and it signed over our economic sovereignty.

Keep using that excuse.

Fianna Fáil was in power when it signed up to commitments on property tax and so forth. It is worth reminding the Senators opposite of that.

It would have dealt with site value.

Senator Keane supported the call for a debate on climate change and shared a positive news story on a conference on energy in 2013 supported by Fáilte Ireland, a welcome and positive initiative.

Senator Walsh raised the budget, on which I have already spoken. Senator Healy Eames spoke about inviting Change Nation to discuss solutions and positive initiatives that can be taken in job creation, a call we all support.

I was not aware of Gabriel Byrne's comments about "Arthur's Day" but we would all share the concerns he expressed. The music element is important in this celebration and has made a contribution to cultural tourism. There is, however, a real concern over abuse of alcohol on the day itself. We will have a debate about the strategic plan for airports in the west with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the near future but I will raise it again with the Leader.