Senator Paschal Mooney, the acting Leader of the Opposition, raised the issue of the ordering of business. As I stated last week, we have had two to three pieces of legislation each week since January and we have some this week. If Members wish, I can, if there are situations such as today where we have only piece of business on a Thursday, confine our business to two days a week rather than three. Looking at next week's business, we have three pieces of legislation, the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Dáil Bill 2012, the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Education and Training Boards Bill 2012. I understand Private Members' business will be another piece of legislation, therefore four pieces of legislation have been listed.

I stated at the beginning of the year that we have the Presidency of the European Union for six months and, as such, it is more difficult to have Ministers come to the House as they have other business in the European Union, for which we laud them. We have witnessed the benefits already in regard to banking and other areas in recent months. I ask Members to bear with us. It is clear from the agenda for recent weeks that we have had most of the senior Ministers in the House dealing with some item or another. What Senator Mooney stated last week and has returned to this week has been exaggerated. Certainly, if we have only one item of business on a Thursday, I will consider condensing that into a Tuesday or Wednesday in future, if that is the wish of the House.

Senator Mooney and many other Members welcomed the improvement in job statistics for the first few months of the year. We all welcome that. It will be the sign that the economy is picking up when we see more people in employment. The Government accepts that it is only a beginning and there is a long way to go. Let us hope there will be further improvement as the year progresses.

Senator Michael Comiskey raised the issue of fracking. I understand that nothing will be decided until the EPA report is published. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, came before the House to speak on that subject last year. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, is now dealing with the issue. When the EPA report is published, or even before that, we might have another debate on the matter.

Senator Ivana Bacik welcomed the job figures. In regard to the mobility allowance, which has been raised, I gave a fairly comprehensive reply yesterday on that matter. I wish to indicate again that the €10.6 million in funding has been ring-fenced for these allowances. The Senator also called for a debate on Syria. I will try to have one of the Ministers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the House and debate the issue.

Senator Sean D. Barrett raised the issue of the role of the House in scrutinising legislation. I think we have done a very good job in that regard and better, I suggest, than the other House, but I would say that in many instances. As Senator David Norris said, it is something we have to live with. We are not getting the credit - not that we want it - but we are doing our jobs, for which we are being paid well. We are doing our jobs quite well in scrutinising legislation and bringing other matters of interest to the House, often before they are brought to the attention of the other House. That is a matter for another day. If we continue to act as we are doing in this House, when the people are deciding on whether the Seanad should continue we can give them good reason for retaining it, but that is a matter for another day.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames called for a debate on the benefits of supporting social enterprise and legislation on crowd-funding and complimented last week's public consultation committee. It was enlightening to have that debate last week. A number of members have commented positively on the debate and said the presentations were wonderful. Some 28 members were present, but on and off there were very few, and Senators were in and out during that debate. That is welcome. I will find out from the Minister when legislation will be introduced on crowd-funding.

We will allow Senator Terry Leyden and Senator John Kelly to fight out the situation in regard to Harristown House.

The word "fight" may be inappropriate.

They can debate that-----

Shared experience.

They can share information on that this evening.

We might end up in Harristown.

Senator John Kelly also raised the issue of Adjournment matters and having Ministers come before the House. Perhaps we can raise that matter at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges but at least we get a response to Adjournment matters that Members can take back to their constituents or whoever raised the matter with them.

Senator David Norris clarified the situation in regard to the vandalism of a property which all Members condemned yesterday. I am sure the Senator, like all of us, would hope the Garda will bring the perpetrators to justice as we would at all times.

As Senator Aideen Hayden has mentioned, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has been in the House more often than any other Minister. She is always welcome to the House and I am sure she will come soon again to debate the mobility allowance. A committee has been set up to report back within three months on the issue. The Senator also called for a debate on banking. We had a specific debate on 3 July 2012 with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, on banking, the economy and mortgage arrears, but we can ask him to come again for a debate on the same subjects fairly soon.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien raised the LRC proposals which we discussed yesterday. There is a need to give the unions time and space to make their decision. I note her point on the mobility allowance which we discussed yesterday.

Senator Thomas Byrne raised the question of rural roads which was raised by his colleague, Senator Paschal Mooney, yesterday. I agree there is a need for more funding for the repair of regional and country roads. They are deteriorating. I can see it in my constituency and throughout the country.

Senator Michael Mullins welcomed the fact that the Gort-Tuam road, the N17 and N18, is about to get permission to go ahead and that it will provide 1,000 construction jobs. That is welcome. I note his points and those of Senator Ned O'Sullivan and Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú in respect of tourism, the numbers for which have increased in the first few months of the year. That is another good news story. Tourism is important for jobs and communities throughout the length and breadth of the country. Let us hope in this year of The Gathering that there will be improved figures where tourism is concerned.

I note also Senator O'Sullivan's point in regard to equine maltreatment. I understand the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is appearing before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine this morning to deal with that specific subject. I share the Senator's concerns in that regard.

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of rare diseases and called for cross-border health co-operation and asked the position especially on rare diseases. We will try to get that information from the Minister.

Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú asked about tourism and the transatlantic trade development. I can assure him the Taoiseach will be selling the Irish tourism product when in the United States for his meeting with President Obama on St. Patrick's Day.