Senator MacSharry raised many items relating to the health service. Many of these were addressed yesterday. There is no question that next year will be a challenging year in the health services. They have funding of €13.263 billion in current expenditure and €397 million in capital expenditure for 2014 while savings, which have been outlined, amount to €666 million. There is a determination by the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the Minister for Health to ensure the budgets and savings are tightly monitored through 2014. The goal, wherever possible, is to cut the costs of services rather than the level and quality of the services delivered, as well as accelerating the rate of reform in the sector.

That is easier said than done and it will be a very difficult task. The HSE’s annual service plan has been given to the Minister and he has a further 21 days until Monday, 16 December, to consider it. I am sure the House will debate the plan when it is announced. The Minister is working on this, unlike a former Fianna Fáil Taoiseach who called the Department "Angola" and the party’s current leader who ran out of it because he was knocked over by the many reports on it. I am sure there will be plenty of debates on health over the coming months.

Senator Bacik inquired of the legislation to extend the university franchise for the Seanad. There is no question of that legislation coming in before Christmas, as was suggested by some newspapers. We will have it some time in the first half of next year. She also called for a debate on Northern Ireland, as did Senators Ó Clochartaigh, Wilson and Paul Coghlan. I will try and facilitate such a debate.

Senator Barrett and several others raised the issue of ghost estates and demolishing houses in them. I understand that ghost estate houses will not be demolished in areas where there is a demand for houses. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, is more than willing to discuss this problem and that of homelessness, as raised by Senators Ó Clochartaigh, Hayden, Wilson, Conway and Mullins.

Homelessness is a major problem. The most recent rough sleeper count conducted in April revealed 94 people sleeping rough in the Dublin area. Figures from the November count will be available in the coming weeks. Regardless of the number, the Government believes no one should need to sleep rough. In the short term, the cold weather initiative operated by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, in partnership with voluntary organisations, has begun and will increase emergency bed level accommodation in the Dublin region. At a more strategic level, the Government has set itself the goal of eliminating long-term homelessness by 2016. As part of that policy, the Minister of State with responsibility for housing appointed an oversight group to review actions on homelessness and recommend actions that will assist in reaching the policy objective. Work by the group is well advanced and its report will be published in several weeks. There is an immediate short-term issue to ensure, particularly in winter, sufficient emergency accommodation available in the Dublin region. This is a priority for Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and the voluntary organisations in partnership with it. We must ensure there is a focus on the elimination of long-term homelessness.

Senator Sheahan asked when the Coroners Bill 2007 will be brought before the House. I will have to find out about it and get back to him.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the recent death of Fr. Alec Reid who played an important part in the peace process. We should all acknowledge this role.

Hear, hear.

Senator Hayden also raised the issue of homelessness and housing supply.

Senator Quinn inquired of the eligibility rules for third level grants and the residency requirements that a student must have lived three out of five years in an EU member state. I have come across this problem myself, only to meet a stone wall in trying to solve it. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Education and Skills.

Senator Colm Burke raised cosmetic surgery regulations. The Minister had said the medical practitioners (amendment) Bill would be in before Christmas but it is not likely to be in before the summer. That is the latest information I have from a legislative meeting I attended. Hopefully that can be expedited. If not we may have to proceed with the Senator's Bill. Senator Wilson raised the shortage of GPs and other health matters, which we can deal with when we have the Minister in with us.

Senator Moran welcomed the appointment of Mrs. Justice Yvonne Murphy to deal with the ongoing matter of symphysiotomy. We all hope this can reach a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned as speedily as possible. The fact that Mrs. Justice Murphy has to report back within six weeks will help to progress the matter, which should have been progressed before now.

Senator Conway spoke on the Bord Gáis Energy sale which is not going ahead because the Government has not received a proper bid. We will hear much more about that in the coming weeks. Senators Conway and Ó Domhnaill spoke on fishing quotas. This is the time of year for negotiations and the Minister was rightly praised last year by all concerned in the fishing industry for his efforts on the deal which was required and which he secured. He built his case based on scientific evidence. I am sure he will do the same this year and has the support of all sides of the House in those negotiations.

Hear, hear.

We will have a debate on the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2013 here this evening and some of those points will be raised again with the Minister. Senator Ó Domhnaill mentioned pensioners losing medical cards. Some 97% of people aged over 70 have medical cards and it is expected that 97% will have them even after the cuts and amendments to the medical card scheme.

Senator Landy spoke about charges for blood tests to GPs for people who have medical cards. Those questions could be addressed to the Minister of State, Deputy White, directly to give clarity. If that is not possible, Senator Landy could put down an Adjournment debate matter to get the clarity he requires. Senator Paul Coghlan called for a debate on the report of US special envoy, Richard Haass, when it is published. He also outlined that the long overdue Smithwick report will be presented soon. We can arrange a debate in this House on that matter. Senator Mullins raised the new national groundwater vulnerability map system, which is very significant and will benefit everybody involved and local authorities in particular.