Senator Darragh O'Brien raised three issues. First, he sought a debate with the Minister for Finance on local property taxation. The Leader has sought to have the Minister come to the House for a number of debates and I am informed that his office is in discussions with the Department of Finance to have the Minister in the House next week. The date has not yet been confirmed, but we hope to have further word tomorrow. We will let the House know exactly when the debate will take place.

Second, the Senator queried the status of proposed legislation to deal with fair pricing in the horticulture and dairy sectors. I can check where it is on the A list and when it is likely to be brought forward. I am not aware of its positioning.

Third, the Senator raised the serious issue of the sale of the Irish Nationwide Building Society mortgage book currently held by IBRC, Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, and security for the 13,000 households concerned. I agree with him and others that it is a serious matter. Special liquidators have been appointed to oversee the liquidation of IBRC for the benefit of all creditors of the institution. They are conducting a valuation and sales process regarding all IBRC's assets, including the residential mortgage portfolio. The key issue is whether mortgage holders who were in arrears with the bank will continue to enjoy the protection of the Central Bank code of conduct on mortgage arrears. The sales process is not due to be completed until next month. A number of colleagues, including the Senator, speculated about vulture funds, but we do not know who the purchaser will be. It could be NAMA, National Asset Management Agency, and the Minister has advised that should the portfolios be sold to the agency, it is likely to apply best practice and that no borrower will be in a worse position.

The Minister is aware of the concerns of borrowers and has instructed his Department to examine the issue in consultation with the Central Bank with a view to bringing forward a solution. He has also informed the Dáil that the Department is aware of another mortgage book that has been purchased by an asset management group not covered by the CCMA, code of conduct on mortgage arrears. That group has met the Central Bank and the Department and indicated that it intends to adopt the CCMA to manage the acquired loans. It believes following the code is in its best interests and those of its customers, as well as forming part of its core strategy. We do not yet know whether the purchaser will be NAMA or a private sector purchaser. It is expected, however, that it would abide by the code as it would likely be in its best interests in dealing with customers. I am sorry that I cannot provide any more information, but that is as full an answer as I can give. I agree, however, that it is a matter of real concern.

Senator Paul Coghlan raised the matter of IBRC and noted the progress made by NAMA in the sale of the loan portfolio. With Senators Catherine Noone, Michael Mullins and David Cullinane, he raised the issue of Rehab’s salary disclosures and, more generally, the need for the regulation of charities. These issues are emerging as a result of a Health Service Executive, HSE, audit of section 38 agencies, hospitals and disability agencies. The audit is ongoing, but the majority have confirmed that they will co-operate with the compliance statement process. There is an ongoing process which has been well reported in the newspapers. The HSE is confident that there will be compliance.

Senator Katherine Zappone referred to the “Somebody to Love” documentary screened on RTE last night and, in that context, asked for a debate on the need to review the application of criminal legislation in respect of sexual relationships for persons with intellectual disabilities. It would be a good debate to have in the House. The Law Reform Commission has made proposals in this area which could be included in the debate which I will ask the Leader to facilitate.

Senator David Norris referred to a petition, of which I was not aware, concerning the US defamation laws. The petition, I think, is being put around by a particular newspaper. I will certainly not be signing it, thanks to the Senator’s advice.

We might all be in the same boat.

We will have a full debate this afternoon on the issues of homophobia, free speech and censorship, thanks to a motion tabled by Senator Katherine Zappone which has cross-party support.

Senator Marie Moloney referred to the recent storms. We all sympathise with her on nine hour journey to County Kerry last week. We all join with her in paying tribute to the ESB, eircom and local authority staff who have worked so hard to restore power and services. All Members express sympathy to the family of Mr. Michael O'Riordan, the eircom worker who was tragically killed while restoring telephone services to households in Glengarriff in west Cork. The Senator also raised the issue of schools closing during the bad weather and how information in this regard was passed on to parents. She might wish to raise this as a matter on the Adjournment with the Minister for Education and Skills.

Senator Paschal Mooney sought a debate on the issue of postmasters and postmistresses with the hand-over of social welfare payments from post offices to banks and, more generally, the move to e-commerce. This issue was also raised by Senators Catherine Noone and Terry Brennan. Debates have been sought on banking which the Leader is trying to facilitate. In that context, we could also debate the issue and online banking. Like many others, we have all been frustrated by the absence of real banking staff when we go into a bank. Online banking, however, when right, can be very convenient, including for those with mobility issues.

Senator Pat O’Neill called for a debate on the beef industry and the crisis for beef farmers with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Minister will attend the House tomorrow for a debate on the greyhound industry. We might ask him to facilitate a debate on the beef industry, too.

Senator Sean D. Barrett inquired about a Green Paper on private health insurance. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, writes in The Irish Times today on the imminent publication of the White Paper on universal health insurance. As the Senator raised a slightly different issue, he might want to communicate directly with the Minister on the idea of a Green Paper on private health insurance.

Certainly, a Government White Paper is imminent on the move towards universal health insurance and the stages being taken towards delivering the single-tier health service. The Minister has set out in the newspaper today very clear steps by which progress will be made on universal health insurance. With regard to the position on private health insurance in the meantime, the Government has clearly stated its commitment to keeping health insurance affordable for as many people as possible. There has, as we all know, been a drop in the number of people with private health insurance, but, in international terms, Ireland continues to retain a high level of voluntary private health insurance. The issue is trying to keep it affordable while we move towards the universal health insurance system.

Senator Michael Mullins called for a debate on the beef industry and supported Senator Paul Coghlan on the section 38 and section 39 agencies. He also complimented the Tánaiste and the Government on the launch of the St. Patrick's Day programme and welcomed the fact that so many visits would be made by Ministers. I know there will be an emphasis on North America this year. Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú also raised this issue, as did Senator Catherine Noone. Senator Ó Labhrás Murchú put it fairly when he said there was much less cynicism about the story of visits by Ministers. I believe we all now accept how important these visits are and the great economic and social benefits and the benefit to the image of Ireland that they bring. We all very much support this. There are somewhat fewer visits to Britain, with one to Britain and Scotland or, I should say, to England and Scotland by Ministers. However, we will have later this year-----

Britain, I am glad to say, still includes England, Wales and Scotland-----

I thank the Senator for his clarification.

-----ruled over by Her Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, by the grace of God.

I do not think I would go that far.

Even if Barroso does not like it.

Do not forget Northern Ireland.

Yes, Senator Paschal Mooney has just mentioned Northern Ireland.

I say it with a tear in my eye.

Senator David Norris has just given me a nice segue into what I am going to say next, that we will later this year have the very welcome visit of President Michael D. Higgins to Britain to meet its Head of State. We will, of course, have ongoing and very close relations with the British authorities. Nonetheless, there is an emphasis this year on business with North America which is very welcome, as other colleagues have mentioned.

Senator David Cullinane spoke about the Rehab issue which I have covered.

Senator Feargal Quinn mentioned the need for a debate on the Disability Federation of Ireland document, of which I am not aware. I will certainly ask the Leader to arrange a debate on it. The Senator also raised the important issue of the quality of milk. We might have the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the House for a combined debate on dairy and beef farming. The Senator raised a very real concern about the increased use of antibiotics and the detrimental effect it could have on milk quality.

Senator Terry Brennan raised the issues of social welfare payments being handed to banks and the closure of post offices. He called for a debate on post offices with the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte.

As I said, Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú raised the issue of the St. Patrick's Day visits programme by Ministers. He also spoke about the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. We all welcome the fact that a full programme will be launched this Thursday by the St. Patrick's Day committee which will be setting out the full programme of cultural and family-friendly activities that will be taking place all across Dublin. It is a national festival taking place in the capital city, but , of course, there will be many parades and other events taking place around the country. The answer to concerns raised about the way in which the parade and other festivities are run is not to close down funfairs or stop family-friendly activities but to ensure we control and regulate anti-social behaviour. To my mind, it is largely the excessive consumption of alcohol which has been the real cause of criticism in the past and that is not the fault of the St. Patrick's Day festival organisers. We will see an excellent programme launched this Thursday, to which I look forward, as I am sure others do.

Senator Catherine Noone raised the issue of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations and also paid tribute to the late Patrick Scott. I am glad that she raised that issue because it was extremely poignant that he died just before the opening this week of the big retrospective exhibition of his work at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. It promises to be a great exhibition and it is very sad that he did not live to see it. He was a hugely important artist for Ireland and it was very nice to hear all of the tributes paid to him over the weekend.

Senator Mary Moran raised the issue of Rehab. I have dealt with that issue. She also referred to the RTE programme on persons with an intellectual disability, on which we will look for a debate in the light of what she and Senator Katherine Zappone said.