I join my colleagues in complimenting Senator White on her initiative and to wish her well in the launching of her report later today. Moreover, one should reflect on the praise that has been heaped on the Minister, Deputy Hogan. Having proposed the dismantling of local democracy at the lowest level and of regional democracy through the lack of elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta, the thought has struck me that had a constitutional restraint not been placed on the Government in respect of this House, it also would have brought forward proposals seeking its abolition and would have used its unprecedented majority in both Houses to push them through. I hope people will be aware of that.

The referendum will come within a week or two of what probably will be another severely austere budget, in which €3 billion will be taken out of an Irish economy that already is staggering under the weight of heavy taxation and in which the most vulnerable are being attacked and the people should remember this. I also issue a challenge to the 35 nominating bodies, which represent hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, as if this referendum is passed, they also will be deprived of a direct line to the democratic process. These professional people, grouped in 35 nominating bodies that have been involved actively in lobbying and in making representations to Senators over many decades, should mobilise their people because they also will lose this important arm of the democratic process. I also join colleagues who have wished Kieran Coughlan well in his retirement.

Hear, hear.

I had the honour and privilege of serving in my first term in this House when Kieran Coughlan was Clerk of the Seanad before Deirdre Lane took over. He subsequently went on to continue a distinguished public career. I wish him well and endorse the views from all sides of the House in wishing the staff well in the break and I thank them for all their help and co-operation.

Before calling on the Leader, I wish Jody Blake, the Clerk Assistant, a speedy return to good health from her recent illness. I also thank the Clerk, Deirdre Lane, and Martin Groves, who has been thrown in at the deep end in recent weeks. I also thank Debbie Canning, Jason Kiernan and Aisling Hart in the Seanad Office for the tremendous work they have done in the face of their heavy workload in recent weeks. I also thank and wish a good holiday to the staff of the House, who are tremendous to work with. Finally, I wish the Secretary General, Kieran Coughlan, a good and happy retirement. He was both Clerk Assistant and Clerk of this House from 1984 to 1990 before becoming Clerk of the Dáil and subsequently becoming both Secretary General and Clerk of the Dáil. He has been an outstanding public official over many years and Members wish him well in his retirement, as well as a happy and long retirement.

I commend Senator White on the publication of her document in respect of women entrepreneurs and am in complete agreement with her. Most of the entrepreneurs I know are women and are excellent people. I commend her on her efforts to bring forward this document, as well as noting her comments in respect of the Enterprise Ireland annual report and on the success of, and upturn in, exports and the work of entrepreneurs nationwide. Whatever about reading the report during the summer, I certainly will read it before the summer is out.

Senator Bacik spoke on energy efficiency measures and the retrofitting of local authority houses. I agree with her and that matter has been raised by Senator Hayden and others in recent days. Senators Mullen, Walsh and others spoke on the McManus report and matters that may have arisen in respect of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. I will not enter into that debate again, as Members have had comprehensive debate on the matter in recent weeks.

There was no comprehensive debate on the pregnancy counselling agencies.

Senator Noone spoke on the attitudes of Dublin people regarding directly-elected mayors. I also note Senator Keane's remarks to the effect that a Dublin forum has been set up involving all four local authorities. I look forward to its report and to debating that matter. However, it is interesting that it appears as though the vast majority of Dublin people would like to have a directly-elected mayor.

Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke to compliment his colleague, Senator White. The Senator also sought the date on which the House would return and for the information of Members, the Seanad will return on 18 September. Senator Gilroy raised matters relating to ethics and the Standards in Public Office Commission, as did Senator O'Keeffe. That matter should be referred and Senator O'Keeffe also sought a debate on the role of lobbyists. Perhaps this can be arranged in the context of the Standards in Public Office Commission annual report. Senator Barrett and many other Senators wished the Secretary General of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service, Kieran Coughlan, well. He has given tremendous service to the Houses of the Oireachtas and to the Irish people and I am sure all Members will join me in wishing him well in his retirement.

Senator Conway and others raised the issue of third level grants and Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, and the fact the system has been streamlined. All Members hope the problems everyone witnessed in this regard over the past year will have been sorted out by the time people again apply for grants.

Senator Cullinane raised the Protected Disclosures Bill and I will try to find out when it will be debated in the House, that is, whether it will be in the autumn session or whatever. Senator Hayden spoke on property prices and the Central Statistics Office, CSO, report, as well as calling for a debate on mortgage repossessions and the banking system when Members return. I certainly will try to arrange such a debate.

Senator Norris moved an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 18, the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2013, be taken. I acceded to the request on Monday to have that Bill published but I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business that the matter be dealt with today. The Bill is very similar to that which Senator Colm Burke had accepted on Second Stage but I reiterate I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business.

Senator Colm Burke also spoke in respect of the Private Members' Bill. May I compliment Members from both sides of the House who have gone to the effort of introducing Private Members' Bills to the House on a wide range of subjects? It is not easy to prepare such a Bill and regardless of whether they are accepted, I compliment all Members who have gone to the trouble of proposing such Bills in the House. I also compliment Senator Quinn on having the Construction Contracts Bill finally concluded yesterday.

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien clarified the source of her remarks on Monday. We have issued an invitation to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, to come in to debate that subject of the use and control of the Internet.

Senator O'Keeffe spoke of the Yeats Summer School debate on the role of the Seanad and its future. I wish the organisers of that event every success also. I am sure Senator O'Keeffe is there among the organisers. Anytime that Yeats is mentioned, Senator O'Keeffe's name is mentioned as well at this stage.

He will never be dead, that is for sure.

Senator Quinn asked about the hours of opening of polling stations for the referendum. I am not sure what the hours are but I am sure they will be notified well in advance of the referendum.

Senator Keane raised the Dublin forum, which I have mentioned. She also mentioned that there could be quite a number of referenda coming up but I suspect that Members of this House will be focusing on one referendum which will be coming up in October.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the EPA report on water quality. That is an important issue. He also called for a debate on the development of the regions for which we will try to have the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, come in early in the new session.

Senator Moran, on the contribution of the religious orders, stated that it is still on the agenda. It is only right that it is on the agenda. On symphysiotomy, she raised the publication of the Walsh report. The report has taken a hell of a long time and I would hope that it will be published soon. It is something that Senator Moran has raised on a constant basis in the House and I would hope that the matter will be rectified soon.

Senator Daly spoke of recalling the House on organ transplantation and he had a similar motion last year. I wonder what has happened between last year and this year that the matter has not been raised within the 12 months.