I call on the Leader to reply to the issues raised, ranging from pigeons to chess.

I assure you it will be a very hard thing to do.

I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Mark Daly. I gave a very comprehensive report yesterday on funding to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector. I outlined that the overall budget for the scheme was €8 million and went through the details of the scheme. I said there was an appeals process, of which I am sure the organisations refused funding will avail. No later than last evening, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Paudie Coffey, stated in the Adjournment debate that he and the line Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, had discussed the issue of funding for community and voluntary organisations and decided that where an organisation was providing assistance for people with medical conditions, the review under way would give it special consideration. There is light at the end of the tunnel in relation to that funding. This issue is connected to matters Senator Feargal Quinn raised in respect of competitiveness and the need to stick within budgets. One of the main issues of concern of the National Competitiveness Council was the need for Ireland to maintain its fiscal probity. Stable and healthy public finances are a prerequisite for growth. The Government must maintain a balance in all of these areas. I am sure the review of the matters referred to by Senator Mark Daly will, as the Minister of State said, bear fruit for the organisations concerned.

Senators Ivana Bacik, Michael Mullins, Kathryn Reilly, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and others referred to the situation in the Middle East. The deaths of four young children were appalling. There is a temporary ceasefire in place for a number of hours, which is little consolation to everybody involved in Gaza. I hope the international community and the European Union will ensure the ceasefire will become permanent to allow these unfortunate people to get their lives back. There has been a need for many years to settle the issue in the Middle East. The Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, will do everything possible, in particular, on the humanitarian side, as well as on the political side, to obtain an agreement in the Middle East to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which has been ongoing for far too long. Many innocent people have suffered and lost their lives during the years. I will certainly ask if we can have a Minister come to the House today. There is a motion before the House on tomorrow's business; therefore, it will be out of the question tomorrow. While I will try to have a Minister to attend, Ministers have their diary events for the day and will be otherwise engaged in many instances.

Senators Ivana Bacik and Hildegarde Naughton welcomed the appointment of Judge Yvonne Murphy to the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes. We all wish her well in her deliberations.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton also called for a debate on the interdepartmental report before the summer recess. That will not be possible.

Senator Terry Leyden raised health matters, with particular reference to Roscommon hospital. He should ask the consultants in the hospital whether it is much safer than it was a number of years ago.

It is safe because nobody is going into it. That is one way to solve the problem.

The Senator should also ask the consultants and users whether the hospital is providing a much greater suite of services for the people of County Roscommon. That is only a suggestion and I am sure the Senator will not take it up.

It is a very interesting suggestion.

I commend Senator Martin Conway for the item discussed during Private Members' business yesterday. It has been commented on by a number of Members.

Senator Feargal Quinn raised the issue of competitiveness and referred to very interesting findings. We have a great deal of work to do in that regard. I have mentioned one of the key areas of concern which requires policy attention - stable and healthy public finances. Another is the need to support productivity-enhancing investment action which is required to enhance credit flows for enterprise. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland Bill which will be before the House today will address that issue. The Minister for Finance said on Second Stage in the House that the Bill represented one of the most significant developments in the area since the foundation of the IDA. The Government is certainly addressing the concerns of the National Competitiveness Council in that regard. Other concerns have also been addressed.

I note Senator Quinn has raised on a number of occasions the question of food waste, which should be addressed by all the parties involved in that sector. I raised Senator O'Sullivan's concerns with the relevant Minister, and I can do no more than that.

Senator Kelly raised the question of discretionary medical cards. I am sure this will continue be addressed. Many of those cards have been restored to people who appealed at the time. I am sure, if there are any difficulties, they can and will be sorted out.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh referred to a HIQA report on a nursing home. I would urge the Senator to give any information he may have on that issue to the Minister, who I am sure will be very interested. I can assure him any HIQA report will be followed through comprehensively by the Department.

Senator Colm Burke noted the health committee will now be allowed to proceed with its work in investigating how the €3.72 billion for the 2,600 organisations is spent. He also highlighted once again the plight of junior doctors and the need for greater reform of the system. I was concerned at Senator Burke's statement in regard to agencies that people may not have the qualifications listed in job applications. That is a very serious charge and it should certainly be investigated, not alone by the health agencies but by the Garda, if wrong descriptions are being given. People's lives could be put at risk if that is the situation.

With regard to Senator Healy Eames's point, as I said yesterday, we in this House have no say on who should or should not be a Minister. I am sure the Taoiseach had a very difficult job because there are so many talented people from both parties. However, in regard to gender equality, this Government has introduced legislation whereby a 30% quota will now be in place for the next general election. That is action rather than words.

Senator Gilroy mentioned Seanad reform. We have a comprehensive suite of proposals to put forward. One of the proposals which I certainly will be trying to have is that when people on the Order of Business raise a subject, they would at least have the courtesy to wait for a reply rather than moving out of the House. I have tried to do that but I would be unfair to people on the other side of the House because I can see who is gone on the other side but I cannot see who is gone behind me. I will have to curb that in the future. I would hope that Members who raise their relevant points on the Order of Business would at least stay for a response, be they satisfied or not with that response.

Senator O'Keeffe spoke on the question of end-of-life care and the report of the health committee and the Ombudsman on that matter. I would like to point out to the Senator that we had a Private Members' motion from Senator Marie Louise O'Donnell on this matter in April. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, gave a very comprehensive outline of the Government supports in this regard but I will certainly see if we can have a further debate on it in the context of the reports which have come out recently.

Senator Paul Coghlan commented on and commended the work of NAMA in certain areas. Senator Noone raised the work of the European Commission on roaming charges and the improvement in the situation, while stressing there is a need for further improvement in that area. She pointed to the fact telecoms are dragging their heels and looking for loopholes, although it should not be news to us that they are doing that at every possible opportunity. The work of the European Commission in this regard is certainly to be commended from a consumer point of view.

Senator Heffernan complimented the work of the Irish Chess Union. I do not know where I can turn the Senator to in regard to funding but I am sure the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport will certainly listen to what he has to say.

Senator Hayden raised the issue of student deposits being retained by various groups. I will find out for her the current status of the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) (Amendment) Bill to which she referred.

In conclusion, I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Seanad staff, the ushers and all the staff of the House for their courtesy during this term. I wish everybody a very relaxing number of weeks before we are back in mid-September.