Senator Darragh O'Brien referred to the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service. When the Government took office in 2011, new targets were set for the ambulance service. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, has raised the bar annually for response times. For 2014 a new target has been set of 80% of life-threatening calls being responded to in under 19 minutes.

In 2013 the target was 68% to 70%. Emergency ambulance services in Dublin city and county are provided by Dublin Fire Brigade by arrangement between Dublin City Council and the Health Service Executive. The National Ambulance Service is working to modernise and reconfigure its services to ensure emergency pre-hospital care is delivered in an appropriate and timely manner. In particular, a single national control system to improve the control and dispatch performance of ambulances, for which Members of the House have been calling in the past few years, is being developed and will be introduced in 2015. In the light of the new control and dispatch system, the HSE's chief operating officer and the Dublin city manager commissioned a joint review of the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service. The focus of the review is to identify a model of service provision that will ensure optimal provision of emergency ambulance services in Dublin. The review was expected to be completed in early summer. However, the timescale has been revised to allow for the results of the national ambulance capacity review to inform the recommendations of the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service review. The purpose of the capacity review which is under way and expected to be completed by the end of the year is to determine the level of resources required in terms of staff, vehicles, skills and distribution to provide a safe and effective ambulance service now and into the future. I can assure Members that work is ongoing in this regard. The response of Fine Gael and the Labour Party is that we want the best possible ambulance service for the people of Dublin and countrywide.

Senator Ivana Bacik and other Members spoke about the Presidential visit. I am sure the event last night was wonderful and that the remainder of the visit will be well received by all. In terms of his speech last night, the President was a credit to us all.

Senator Ivana Bacik also spoke about the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013, with which we will be dealing following the Order of Business. As Members will have noted, we have dealt in the past few weeks with a number of Private Members' Bills. I hope to progress these Bills and schedule as many motions as possible for discussion in the coming months in an effort to clear the Order Paper.

I note Senator David Norris's comments on constitutional nationalism versus the armed struggle. The Senator made some interesting points in that regard and also raised the issue of unsolicited cold calls from companies, which are very annoying for many.

Senator Michael Comiskey welcomed the holding of the World Sheep Shearing Championships in Wexford and the benefits that would accrue for tourism in County Wexford and the south east as a result.

Senator Mary White also spoke about the benefits of the Presidential visit and outlined that age was no barrier to success.

Senator Michael Mullins also called for a debate on the ambulance service. I will try to have the relevant Minister in the House for a debate on it as soon as the review has been completed.

Senator Sean D. Barrett spoke about the future of third level education. As mentioned by him, there are two or three Bills in the ether. Perhaps when they are being dealt with, we might have a comprehensive debate on the future of third level education.

Senator Denis Landy spoke about the greyhound industry and the doping of six dogs at a recent national coursing event. We had a debate on the greyhound industry in recent weeks. However, I will bring the Senator's point that the issue of coursing should be included in the review to the attention of the relevant Minister.

Senators Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Cáit Keane referred to a recent article in the media on Travellers. As I have not read the article, I do not propose to comment on it. However, I take on board the points made by the Senators. Also, I am a member of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly sub-committee which deals with the issue of Travellers in all jurisdictions. I record our thanks to Pavee Point and others who represent the Traveller and Roma communities for their help and co-operation during the recent visit by the sub-committee to Dublin.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill spoke about electricity prices which he stated were 4% higher than the EU average. In this regard, he asked that the Commissioner for Energy Regulation be invited to come to the House. I understand the regulator recently appeared before a committee, which is the appropriate place in which to have a debate on energy. It is important there be competition in the electricity market.

Senator Colm Burke spoke about the need to fill vacant consultant and trainee general practitioner positions. In that regard, he referred to the more than 1,000 Irish trained general practitioners who went to work in the United Kingdom last year and called for a debate on the cost of education and follow-up training for GPs. I will try to arrange a debate on that issue.

Senator Jim Walsh spoke about the sale of the IBRC loan book, an issue we discussed at length on the Order of Business for a number of weeks. The code of conduct is in place. I understand the purchasers of the loan book have signed up to the procedures in it.

The Senator also spoke about the possibility of the President raising particular issues while in the United Kingdom. The issues raised by him are outside the remit of the President. However, he can be assured that the Government has raised them and will continue to raise them with the UK Government.

Senator Catherine Noone spoke about Menu-Cal and called for a debate on obesity and the promotion of good health. We had such a debate recently on a Private Members' motion. However, it is a matter that must be kept under constant review.

Senator Martin Conway referred to today as being national job shadow day and the need to raise awareness of job opportunities for people with disabilities. I hope the person job-shadowing the Senator is not also job-shadowing any other Senator or Deputy from County Clare.

Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a one hour debate to clarify whether the Government supports the retention of the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance service in the city and county of Dublin be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Yes.