We have had 28 contributions from Senators. I ask the Leader to respond.

It was remiss of me to fail to announce the Order of Business in the normal manner. No. 1 is a motion regarding the arrangements for the address to the House by Mr. David Begg, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which is to be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business. No. 2 is a motion regarding the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Immunities) Act (Commencement) Order 2013 which is to be taken without debate at the conclusion of No. 1. No. 3 is statements on the report of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on how lifestyle changes can help to reduce cancer rates. Private Members' business is No. 44, motion No. 8 on junior cycle reform.

I welcome all Senators back to the House. Senator Darragh O'Brien raised health matters, including a budget overrun in the health sector. I am not aware of any such overrun, although I am aware of comments made in this regard by the Minister for Health and others. We should wait and see whether there will be a budget overrun.

We do not have time to wait. We need to get rid of the Minister.

On mental health issues which the Senator also addressed, we have agreed that the next public consultation will be on this area. The Senator will be involved in consultation which will provide an opportunity for the House to discuss mental health issues.

Senator Ivana Bacik and others referred to the budget. All of the figures mentioned are no more than speculative at this point, as was noted by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, no later than this morning when he stated no final decisions had yet been made regarding the budget. We will have to wait until 15 October to discover what will be the precise position.

Senator Fiach Mac Conghail referred to the death of the wonderful poet Seamus Heaney. I express my sympathy and that of the House to the late Mr. Heaney's wife and family. I certainly could not improve on the contribution made by Senator Fiach Mac Conghail. I will allow time in the coming weeks for statements on the wonderful life of Seamus Heaney.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton referred to traffic management proposals and difficulties in Galway and elsewhere. Such matters have been raised in the House on a number of occasions. While these are matters, in the first instance, for the city and county council, the national aspects of the issue can be debated in the House.

I will certainly contact the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on the issue.

Senator David Norris wondered whether we would again debate the issue of the Seanad referendum in the House. We have had a very lengthy debate on it already and have also had a number of contributions in the House this afternoon. I am sure we will have more comments on the issue in the coming weeks. I am also sure the money spent by parties will be very closely scrutinised by the people responsible for scrutinising moneys spent on election and referendum campaigns.

There have been calls for a debate on the situation in Syria. As Senator David Norris stated, the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, were invited to come to the House. The Tánaiste will appear before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon. That debate will take place at the committee and should it prove necessary, we can try to get the Tánaiste or the Minister of State to come to the House to discuss the very serious situation in Syria.

Senators Aideen Hayden and Denis Landy spoke about NAMA's stock of houses. To date, only 397 houses have been transferred for social housing, which is appalling. Far more houses should be transferred, given the need for social housing. Senator Aideen Hayden also referred to the capital budget. I hope this item can be addressed in some way in the capital budget.

Senator David Cullinane spoke about budget debates. Members, including the Minister for Finance, have received all of the pre-budget submissions at this stage. If we can, we will arrange for some Ministers to come to the House to address their budgetary areas. We have a very short period of time in the run-up to the budget.

Senator Michael Mullins spoke about the remarkable courage of Malala Yousafzai and the example she had given to all. He also referred to the importance of education, a point addressed by Senator Jim Walsh. Senator Michael Mullins also spoke about the new SUSI system. We all hope it will work considerably better than it did last year when there were some teething problems. I hope hey have been sorted and that we will have fewer problems this year. I agree with the Senator's point on social welfare appeals over carer's allowance and other benefits which are taking far too long to be addressed. The Minister for Social Protection will be in the House next week to discuss Pathways to Work and I am sure that issue can be raised with her at that point.

Senators Terry Leyden, James Heffernan and Paschal Mooney extended their condolences to the family of the former Minister Michael J. Noonan. I am sure we would all like to express our condolences to the family.

Senator Catherine Noone spoke about obesity, calorie counting and lifestyle changes. I am sure she will address these matters when we come to discuss the report of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on lifestyle changes.

I will accept Senator Feargal Quinn's amendment to the Order of Business to allow No. 14, the Senator's Bill on upward-only rent reviews, to be published. I am sure we will be discussing the Bill in the coming weeks.

Senator John Gilroy and several other Members called for a debate on the freedom of the press with reference to the recent sacking of a journalist. I will certainly try to have the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, in the Chamber for an overall debate on the media and freedom of the press.

Senator Jim Walsh called for a debate on the report of the OECD and the troika on unemployment. I will certainly try to arrange such a debate.

Senator Pat O'Neill raised the issue of the single farm payment and referred to problems with tags on cattle and the difficulties farmers faced this year. I have requested that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, come to the House to discuss these matters, as well as the issue of Common Agricultural Policy reform. While I understand he will do so, it will be approximately three to four weeks before he is in a position to do so.

Senator Sean D. Barrett suggested the Referendum Commission might have had some omissions regarding votes for Northern Ireland citizens, in particular. I am sure this matter will be raised with the commission. The Senator also called for a debate on the reform of the banking system.

Senator Denis Landy raised the issue of a voluntary housing code. It is a matter he has raised here previously and I note his points in that regard. I also note his points on Seanad reform, as well as the comments of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, at a recent conference.

Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú also spoke about the Seanad referendum. I am glad to note that the other House intends to deal with European Union directives, as Members here have done and will do this week, and to have more of a say and a greater debate on the European Union. The Seanad is ahead of the posse in that regard, as its Members have been doing this in the past 12 months by inviting our MEPs and Commissioner to appear before them, as well as Professor Pissarides on the issue of youth unemployment. Consequently, I am glad that the other House intends to adopt the same policy as the Seanad in this regard.

Senator Martin Conway spoke about the issue of people with mental health problems in prison. It is certainly a matter I will raise with the Minister for Justice and Equality and on which Members perhaps might have a debate in the House.

Senator Susan O'Keeffe advised Members of a debate next Wednesday, to which I am sure many Senators would like to attend. However, as Members will have business to deal with in the House until 9 p.m. next Wednesday, it could be very difficult for them to attend the aforementioned debate on the future of the Seanad.

They could bilocate.

However, I am sure it will be a worthy debate.

Senator Susan O'Keeffe also called for a debate on the value of the creative sector. I will certainly try to arrange such a debate.

Senator John Crown raised the issue of the cost of the Seanad and posters erected by my party. For the Senator's information, I am informed this was at the cost of the party-----

The public pays the party for expelled Deputies and Senators.

The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission published a report in this regard. It was given to Members approximately three weeks before the Seanad rose for the summer and provided figures for the cost of the Dáil and the Seanad. All Members will have received a copy of the report and even with my poor arithmetic, I could make out that the figure for wages, expenses and staff for the Seanad was €9.03 million.

Clearly, there are additional costs such as IT, pensions and other costs, but I am sure that by 4 October the people will have their arithmetic done as to whether these costs amount to €20 million and will be able to decipher who is right or wrong in that regard.

Senator John Kelly called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry on the death of Fr. Niall Molloy, a matter also addressed by Senator Paul Coghlan. I will bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames spoke about the rights of children with a disability and asked when the mental capacity Bill would be enacted into law. I will make inquiries in that regard.

Senator Paul Bradford also asked about the cost of the Seanad. I agree with him that any campaign should be fought on facts, not fiction.

I had a question concerning the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar. Perhaps the Leader addressed it, but I did not hear his reply.

I knew I was forgetting somebody. I did not have the name written down, just the query. I offer the Senator my apologies. Funding for projects in the west is a matter I will raise with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, but the Senator might also consider raising it on the Adjournment as in that way he would receive the exact information he requires.

Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That the Minister for Health be requested to attend the House today to make a statement on cuts in services for children with mental and physical disabilities." Is the amendment being pressed?

Yes.

Senator Feargal Quinn has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 14 be taken before No. 1." The Leader has indicated that he is prepared to accept this amendment. Is that agreed? Agreed.