Senator O'Keeffe also paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Donohoe. She called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House in light of the withdrawal by Tesco from its contract with Silvercrest Foods. I can call on him to come to the House.

Senator Mullins raised the appalling news of a mass execution in Aleppo, Syria, and the concerns about the break-up of the country. A few hours ago, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Joe Costello, made an announcement at a major humanitarian pledging conference for Syria that Irish Aid will give an additional €4.7 million to provide humanitarian relief in Syria. That is an important commitment, which I am sure everyone will welcome.

Senator MacSharry also raised the hospitals issue, which I have addressed. He referred to the Heritage Council, which is something he could raise directly with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

I asked the Leader last week who said he would respond. I acknowledge it is a difficult issue but it is important for the integrity of the people involved that we get a response. Why will the Deputy Leader not write to the Minister in the same way she is writing to him about the issue raised by Senator Landy?

I have not spoken with the Leader. He may well have-----

Why will the Deputy Leader not write to the Minister in the same way she is writing to him about the earlier issue? It is difficult but it is important to have an answer for the 76 unsuccessful applicants.

The Deputy Leader without interruption.

It may well be that the Leader has raised it with the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and, therefore, I will ask him.

Senator Burke raised the issue of delays in payments, which may be taken as a matter on the Adjournment. He also paid tribute to the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

Senator Norris referred to health services, which I have dealt with. I agree with his comments on the Constitutional Convention, which I also attended. I was very impressed by the engagement of citizens.

Senator Conway raised the welcome announcement by President Obama that he proposes to formalise the status of 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. I thought for a moment he was going to ask for the President to be invited to address the House. That may be going a little far.

I encourage the Deputy Leader to write to him.

Certainly we can ask for a debate with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the US ambassador. Senator Pat O'Neill called for a similar debate and pointed out hypocrisy on the part of the Opposition on the hospitals issue.

Senator Paschal Mooney raised the issue of the undocumented Irish on which there appears to be cross-party support for a debate.

Senator John Gilroy asked if the Minister for Finance would update the House on the negotiations on the promissory note. I agree with what the Senator has said. We can certainly explore if it is possible to get an update on the issue but given that the negotiations may be at a delicate stage we will have to see whether that would be possible nearer the time but we can find out.

Senator Mark Daly also raised the issue of the undocumented Irish which I have addressed.

Senator Michael D'Arcy pointed out the need for an upgrade to Wexford hospital. On the issue of the promissory note he suggested that Christine Lagarde be invited to appear before the House. There is a greater prospect of her appearing before the House than President Obama. We can certainly do that. I will speak to the Leader about it and we can put it on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which is the appropriate forum.

Senator Jimmy Harte raised the issue of the state of hospitals in Donegal. If the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, comes to the House the Senator can raise the issue with him.