I, too, welcome Senator Norris back to the House. It was great to witness him in full flow this morning. I agree with the Cathaoirleach that this House has no role in the appointment of Ministers. Perhaps, however, it should. We should certainly have had some influence in regard to the four excellent members of the newly formed Cabinet who are former Members of the previous Seanad, including the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. I also welcome the appointment of two other former Members of this House, Deputies Joe McHugh and Paudie Coffey, as Ministers of State.

I rise primarily to welcome the appointment of Deputy Ann Phelan as Minister of State with special responsibility for rural affairs. As stated in this House many times, this Government has been the worst in the history of this State in dealing with rural Ireland. It has overseen the closure of rural Garda stations, schools and post offices. It has also overseen emigration from rural Ireland on a vast scale. I hope the appointment of Deputy Ann Phelan as Minister of State will focus this Government's attention on positive discrimination towards rural Ireland.

I do not propose to accept Senator MacSharry's amendment to the Order of Business. On the Senator's question in regard to which Minister has responsibility for the disability strategy, a change has been made to the official title of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to incorporate primary care. The Minister of State is still responsible for the disability strategy and older people. It is not possible to include every responsibility in the title of a Minister or Minister of State's portfolio. I can assure the Senator that is the situation.

I thank Members for their agreement to taking all Stages of the Court of Appeal Bill 2014 this evening. I propose to amend the Order of Business, which currently provides that only Second Stage be taken at 6 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given five minutes to reply, to specify that Committee and Remaining Stages be taken thereafter. I also propose to amend the Order of Business in relation to Private Members' business in that I referred to No. 65, motion No. 11, when I should have said No. 69, motion No. 12.

Senator Hayden spoke about women in Cabinet. The number of females at Cabinet level has doubled from two to four, which is to be welcomed by all. Senator Hayden also called for the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to come to the House to discuss the issue of student accommodation, on-campus accommodation and the availability of accommodation for students generally. I will certainly ask the Minister to come to the House next term.

Senator van Turnhout raised the issue of employment permits and said that we might not have allocated sufficient time for that debate. If additional time is necessary, I will amend the Order of Business. I have no intention of curtailing the debate on this issue. If further time is required, it will be provided later or on Friday. The Senator and others also raised the issue of the scheme to support national organisations. The current funding scheme commenced in July 2011 and was due to expire in December 2013, but it was extended to June 2014 with a view to the commencement of a new scheme from 1 July this year. The overall budget for the new scheme is €8 million. During 2013, officials of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government carried out a review of the scheme. The review found that the scheme has fulfilled its main objective in providing national organisations with multi-annual funding towards the core costs associated with the provision of services. The review recommended that organisations be required to clearly demonstrate the added value of the work proposed. Effective use of the core funding in recipient organisations also requires that robust governance and cost control procedures be in place in all of these organisations.

The new scheme was advertised for application during the first quarter of this year. Pobal was asked to undertake an assessment of the applications received and this process, from submission of application to notification of suitable and successful applications, took place in quarters 1 and 2 this year. Pobal has significant experience of the design and assessment criteria and completion of assessment functions in this regard. A large number of applicant organisations sought the maximum level of funding available. In some cases, an amount in excess of the maximum available funding was sought. As a result, the number of organisations that could potentially be funded under the scheme within the budget available was lower than for previous schemes. In order to make the funding available to as many organisations as possible in these difficult times, the situation was assessed and the allocations under the scheme were announced last week. Pobal received 157 applications for funding under the scheme, three of which did not meet the basic eligibility criteria. The remaining 154 applicants were appraised against the criteria as outlined in the application guidance, with 55 approved for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2016. Pobal has put in place a dedicated team to deal with inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback to applicants.

There is also an appeals process and Pobal has provided applicants with detailed information in respect of it. The appeals process is now live and it would not be appropriate to make any further comment on the funding process as a result. As Senator Colm Burke stated, some 2,600 organisations are in receipt of funding from the HSE. A call was made on yesterday's Order of Business for a debate on the issue of funding for such organisations. A number of these organisations represent one or two groups. Perhaps encouraging them to work together would be a good idea. I am sure we will return to this matter early in the next term.

Senator Norris referred to extending an invitation to Pope Francis to visit Ireland. As the Cathaoirleach stated, that matter will be discussed by the CPP. I assure the Senator that the Government and the Papal Nuncio fully support the notion of extending such an invitation to the Pope. I understand that moves are afoot.

I thank the Leader.

For the information of Senator White, I have already outlined the fact that Deputy Kathleen Lynch is Minister of State with responsibility for older people. In the context of the housing list relating to older people, I need not remind the Senator that very little social housing was built during the Celtic tiger years when the country was awash with money. Social housing was forgotten by those in the previous Government.

Woe on them.

Senator Landy referred to the fair deal scheme and the fact that nursing homes are seeking additional funding. I will raise that matter with the new Minister and ensure that it is debated in the House.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh referred to the situation in the Middle East. I have invited the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come before the House to discuss that matter.

Other Members referred to the appointment of a new Minister and Minister of State at the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the fact that neither has full command of the Irish language. I am sure both will brush up on their language skills. Fianna Fáil was one of the first parties to appoint a Minister who possessed very little Irish-----

That Minister was fluent----

-----and who was the granddaughter of the party's founder.

-----and her cousin was a Minister of State.

There is no point in the pot calling the kettle black in this instance. I assure the House that the two individuals who have been appointed are extremely capable and I am sure they will go on to prove that.

Senator Conway referred to the potential for tourism development in the context of walking, cycling and running. I agree with him in that regard and I am sure the matter will be discussed with the new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Senator Daly referred to the organ donation system. I am aware that this system has been improved significantly and that it now employs over 20 people. The previous staffing complement was one or two. That is a good news story. I will seek to ascertain from the Government when it is intended to introduce the human tissue Bill.

Senator Moran referred to long-term rentals and adaptation grants for people with disabilities. Significant improvements in the money available in the form of such grants have been announced in recent times.

Senator Healy Eames referred to Galway being an economic driver for the region in which it is located. As she stated, there has been significant foreign direct investment, FDI, in Galway. I am sure this will continue to be the case. As the Cathaoirleach mentioned, the House does not have a role in respect of the appointment of Ministers. Like Senators Mullen and Walsh, the Senator raised the issue of the Human Rights Commission and the views of a certain member of that organisation. There are constitutional provisions in place and these will be upheld by the Government until the people decide otherwise. That is and will remain our position.

Senator Noone referred to the need to study the advances that have been made in respect of Alzheimer's disease and called for a debate on the national strategy relating to it. I will try to arrange such a debate for the next term.

Senator Kelly referred to wind turbines and wind energy, a matter in respect of which Senator Byrne has tabled a Private Members' motion. The House engaged in several debates on this issue previously, I will certainly invite the new Minister to come before the House following the summer recess in order that we might discover whether the policies that have been advocated up to now remain in place. I am sure the latter will prove to be the case.

Senator Walsh referred to Moore Street. As he indicated, the Taoiseach met the relatives involved. I am sure matters will be progressed as a result of that meeting.

Senator Wilson highlighted the number of Ministers and Ministers of State who are former Members of the House and wished them and their colleagues in government well.

The Leader has proposed two amendments to the Order of Business, "That Second Stage of the Court of Appeal Bill be taken at 6 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be given five minutes to reply, and that Committee and Remaining Stages be taken immediately thereafter"; and "That Private Members' business be No. 65, motion 12." Are the amendments agreed to? Agreed.

Senator MacSharry has also proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate with the Taoiseach on the €1.2 million cut in the funding from Pobal for voluntary organisations be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Yes.