Senator Marc MacSharry and others spoke about the Pieta House launch of its Mind Our Men campaign this morning. I compliment Pieta House on the excellent work it does in this regard. We will certainly have a debate after Easter on the issue of suicide. We have had several debates on the issue in the past and will continue to keep it in people's minds.

With regard to the polling times for by-elections, I do not wish to get involved in by-election campaigning in the House today, but it is somewhat cynical for Senator Marc MacSharry to raise the issue. He has actually got it wrong. As Senator Catherine Noone mentioned, the polls will not close at 7 p.m.

I meant to say 9 p.m.

That is exactly what it is.

Closing time is not 10 p.m. and they are not opening at 7 a.m.

As they are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., there will be 13 hours.

It is outrageous.

The Leader to respond without interruption, please.

It is not enough for the poor people of Ratoath and Ashbourne. They will not have time to get home.

It is ample time for people to cast their votes.

Senators Ivana Bacik, Martin Conway, David Norris and others spoke about the bailout in Cyprus. Last June European leaders agreed to break the vicious circle between banking and sovereign debt. With this aim in mind we also agreed that the European Stability Mechanism could be used to recapitalise banks directly. This remains the stated policy and position of the European Heads of State and Government. That is why Ireland is seeking further EU assistance to reduce taxpayers' exposure to the banking system as we hope to get back to the markets soon. We have been back already. We will continue this work with our European partners to ensure Ireland will be in a position to avail of new recapitalisation tools that are being developed. A key priority for the Government has been to ease the bank-debt burden on taxpayers and clean up the banks in order to support economic recovery. As I recently stated, the policy on socialising the cost of private bank failure by bailing out bank bondholders was, in the first instance, the responsibility of the previous Fianna Fáil Government, but the error was compounded-----

Come on. The Leader cannot be going around collecting the accolades of the late Mr. Brian Lenihan Jr. and then blaming him when back home.

The Leader to continue, without interruption.

I ask Senator Marc MacSharry to let me continue. The error was compounded when the continuation of this policy became, in effect, a condition of the 2010 bailout programme required by Brussels and Frankfurt. If the Senator had waited and listened, he would have received the response. It was feared that allowing a bank in Ireland to default on its debts would unleash panic in the financial markets across the eurozone. This debt now weighs heavily on taxpayers and, in the eyes of investors, remains an obstacle to sustained market re-entry.

In dealing with the bank failures in Cyprus and the unique circumstances there there has been a change of policy at European level. In Cyprus it has been banks' creditors, including depositors with savings above €100,000, rather than taxpayers, who have been asked to pay for the banking losses. This change of policy is no longer directly relevant to Ireland. We have recapitalised the banks and there is no longer any rationale for imposing loses on any creditor to Irish banks. It remains the firm Government policy to protect depositors in Irish banks through strong prudential regulation and enforcement. That is the position on deposits, banking and the bailout for Cyprus.

Senators Ivana Bacik and Colm Burke spoke about the Guthrie cards, a matter raised by a number of Senators in recent months. I am glad that the Minister has halted the destruction of these cards and records-----

Hear, hear.

----- and established an expert group to examine the issue. When that expert group reports, I am sure we can have a debate on it in the House.

Senators Marie-Louise O'Donnell, Aideen Hayden, Diarmuid Wilson and others referred to the proposed sale of the national lottery. The proceeds from that sale will go towards funding the new national children's hospital. With regard to approaches by the Camelot group, I have not been approached by that company. It is wrong to bring in these people. We now have a register of lobbyists and should implement it with regard to people who come to the Oireachtas. As was said by Senator Aideen Hayden, there should be a distinction made between charities and groups such as Camelot coming to Leinster House. Such people coming here to lobby for their own gain should be discouraged.

Senator Pat O'Neill spoke about farming and the lack of quality forage. He asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to apply for access to the hardship and solidarity funds. I am sure the Minister will make every effort in that regard. He will be in the House after Easter to discuss Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, reform, labelling and the horsemeat situation, all of which are items Members have asked that the Minister come to the House to discuss.

Senator Feargal Quinn mentioned the Construction Contracts Bill. I assure him that as soon as it is returned from the Dáil, we will deal with it immediately. There will be no delay in this House on that very important legislation. I acknowledge the long delays that have occurred since we first dealt with the Bill. The Senator also spoke about organ donations and new developments in that regard. I will find out from the Minister concerned what the position is on introducing legislation to deal with that matter.

Senators John Whelan, Diarmuid Wilson and others referred to the property tax which is being introduced to help fix the massive deficit in funds. It is being introduced as it is six times more job friendly than taxes on labour, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI. The Government fully agrees that households in unfinished developments that are in a seriously problematic condition should be exempt from payment of the local property tax. However, there has been a general misunderstanding of some of the facts surrounding the local property tax waivers. They have been unfairly compared with the household charge waiver, which people claim benefited 43,000 households. In fact, 20,000 of these houses were neither complete nor occupied; therefore, the waiver benefited nobody in these circumstances. In the light of more accurate information, this anomaly has been removed.

The regulations signed by the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, last week to prescribe estates that qualify for an exemption from local property tax are based on the 2012 national housing development survey which was carried out over the course of the summer of 2012. The survey was based purely and objectively on the actual state of completion of a development. It expressly included estates that were deemed by local authorities to be in seriously problematic condition. This definition includes estates in many areas that have outstanding development issues.

With regard to the differences between the local property tax and the household charge waivers, the experience of dealing with unfinished estates presented a need to redefine the criteria used, in particular, a need to distinguish between housing within estates. Many estates are built in phases and serious issues might only apply to a small proportion of houses that were generally built or begun in the later phases. That clarifies the matter in respect of the household survey. The files have been updated. The original number of 43,000 waivers was quoted in the newspapers, but the actual number was 20,000.

Senator David Cullinane raised the issues of mental health funding. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, was in the House and stated the funding for mental health services was ring-fenced.

Moneys that were not spent last year will also be part of the additional funding for mental health services this year.

Senator Catherine Noone referred to the interesting concept of the levy on multiples now in place in Northern Ireland and the prospect of reducing rates for smaller businesses. I am sure the relevant Minister will certainly consider the position in this regard.

On the point raised by Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, we all realise that people are experiencing grave difficulties. There is no question that they are finding it very hard to make ends meet. Fianna Fáil signed up to the property tax, however, and if it were in power, such a tax would have been in place since last year. It seems to have undergone a Pauline conversion in respect of the property tax.

Senator Colm Burke referred to the cost of drugs and variations in price between pharmacies. According to the survey the Senator mentioned, it appears that some pharmacies are not passing on the benefits of lower prices and reduced mark-ups to patients and customers. This is very disappointing. The public awareness to which the National Consumer Agency price comparison survey gives rise in respect of this matter is welcome. The Minister for Health is raising the issue of price transparency with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, PSI, the regulatory body for pharmacists in this country. While it would not be possible to display the prices of the approximately 7,000 medicines currently on the market here, the PSI has been asked to examine how greater price transparency can be achieved. This should happen; the price of a particular medicine in one part of the country should not be double that charged elsewhere.

Senator Jimmy Harte referred to RTE. I am not aware that coverage of this evening's match by the station will in some way be blocked from being broadcast in Northern Ireland. We all wish the Republic of Ireland soccer team every success in its endeavours tonight.

Senator Sean D. Barrett referred to the reforms required at the Department of Finance. Last week we debated the Finance Bill at length. I agree that reforms are necessary and that regulatory impact assessments should be available when we deal with such legislation in the future. Senator Martin Conway also referred to this matter in the context of discussing submissions in advance of the budget. Such discussions took place to a degree last year and I hope we will continue in this vein in the coming year. As Senators are aware, the budget is due to be introduced in October. This is earlier than in previous years.

Senator John Gilroy referred to a matter of which I was not aware with regard to outdoor staff employed by Cork County Council and indicated that the sanctions imposed were too harsh and the result of an over-reliance on red tape and an over-abundance of health and safety regulations. I invite the Senator to raise this matter on the Adjournment in order that he might obtain specific information on it.

Yes.

Senators Terry Brennan and Jim D'Arcy referred to the Narrow Water bridge project. This is a very exciting project, particularly for those who live in north Louth and south Down. I understand the order relating to the project has not yet been signed and that there have been delays in progressing it. I will certainly attempt to discover the up-to-date position from the relevant Minister and relay the information I obtain in that regard to the Senators.

Like others, Senators David Norris and Cáit Keane referred to the situation regarding the Camelot group and the register for lobbyists.

Senator Catherine Noone referred to upward-only rent reviews. The judgment handed down yesterday was specific to the case involved and a particular clause in the lease. I do not know whether it relates to any other lease, but as far as I am aware, it does not.

Senator Jim Walsh stated the Government was suggesting the economy was on the upturn and indicated his view that it might be 2020 before such an upturn occurred.

I would be much more optimistic than the Senator in that regard. He has been calling for more cuts in public expenditure when the majority of people and members of his party on the other side of the House have been calling for more expenditure in almost every area of government. What is Fianna Fáil's policy?

Different choices.

Is it for or against public expenditure-----

To have choices.

----or is it continually the catch-all party that it always was?

The Leader should listen to his Labour Party colleagues. Over €100,000 a year-----

Senator Michael Mullins expressed good wishes to the parish priest in Galway who was attacked over the weekend.

The Leader will not even listen to his Labour Party colleagues.

Please allow him to conclude.

We all send our good wishes to the parish priest in question.

Frankfurt's way is working well.

Senator Michael Mullins also called for greater regulation of the cash for gold industry. The Oireachtas Library and Research Service has issued a very good paper on that matter. The Senator also raised the issue of illegal moneylenders and the enforcement of the law in that area. I will certainly raise that matter with the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Senator Aideen Hayden also raised the issue of lobbyists and praised the GAA for its decision to place its facilities at the disposal of the IRFU in its bid to host the World Cup. That is to be welcomed and the GAA is to be complimented on it. The Senator also raised the question of the effects of the cold weather on older people and called for a debate on the issue of fuel poverty. We will try to arrange that debate for the Senator.

Senator Diarmuid Wilson raised matters, which I addressed, concerning lobbyists, property tax and rates.

Senator Paul Coghlan raised the issue of the development of Killarney House and the reconstruction of an old garden plan, which will be welcomed by all, not only in Killarney but also throughout the country.

I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Marc MacSharry.

The record will show clearly that I did not argue against the household tax. It will show clearly that I accepted that it might have been necessary, in the context of where we were, but I expect the Leader to accept that I asked for a review after six months to determine the difficulties people might be experiencing.