I am pleased to inform the House that the literary and debating society in NUI Galway last night voted that the House should be retained. Senator Naughten and I were the Members of the House who spoke. The university has a superb tradition of oratory, not least the fact that President Michael D Higgins was the auditor in 1965, then came to this House and went on to the Dáil and Áras an Uachtaráin. Based on what we heard last night, many people can follow in his footsteps.

One of the points in which the audience and students were most interested was the reform carried out by the Seanad, with its 42 new Members. I ask the Leader if we can put the innovations on the website of Seanad Éireann. I am sure the Leader has a longer list than I do, including the invitation to the European Commissioner, the invitation to the UN Deputy Commissioner, the Irish MEPs showing the best level of co-ordination between the European Parliament and this House, the human rights appearances of former Senators Manning and Robinson, the appearance by the Orange Order, which was a real hit with the students, the Nobel Prize winner Christopher Pissarides, and the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. I am sure the Leader has more than just these seven because he has been at the forefront of it. Putting this information on the website will be useful in the debate people have in the coming ten days.

Friday, 4 October is not just the scheduled date for the referendum but the scheduled day of the meeting of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association meeting. It is entirely inappropriate that we invite people from Northern Ireland to this House and extend the hand of friendship on the same day as we conduct a referendum to deprive people in Northern Ireland of votes for this House in the two university constituencies. The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr. William Hay, has written to ask that the meeting does not take place on that inappropriate day. It seems ham-fisted by the Government to combine the two events. I ask the Leader to support the speaker. It would be entirely wrong to have the referendum and the meeting of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association on the same day. The two events are contradictory in spirit.

It is important to give recognition to the three students from Kinsale, Ciara Judge, Emer Hickey and Sophie Healy-Thow, who won the BT Young Scientist competition in Ireland and went on to win the European Young Scientist Finals. It is important to give recognition to the students and teachers for their commitment in preparing for the young scientist competition in Ireland and at European level. It is interesting that Kinsale community college has won the young scientist award three times in the past seven years. There is a major input by teachers and the school in preparing students for the competition. It is important to give recognition to students and also teachers and schools throughout the country who help students in preparing for that important competition and for preparing people for their future careers. It is a great to have it on a CV.

I refer to the report on absenteeism in the Civil Service. There has been a 13.5% increase in absenteeism or sick leave and we should have a debate on it. This is not a criticism of people who are on sick leave. The debate should be about whether the structures in some of our Departments and workplaces are not adequately dealing with the issues that arise. The total cost of sick leave, according to the report, is in excess of €449 million. This is a huge sum of money and we need to review constantly how people's workplaces and their work is organised. It is not just a matter of looking at the time people are away from work.