The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, spoke about conservation and metering. It is certainly a very important matter, on which I am sure we will have a very comprehensive debate this evening. Conservation is very important because we have found out that when metered there were about 22 houses in the country from which there was a leakage of over 1 million gallons of water a day, sufficient to supply a town as big as Gorey. There is, therefore, a need for metering and conservation which are still very much part of the Government's policy. I am not aware of any motion on this matter, but we will have legislation on it in the House before Christmas to copperfasten the proposals to be made by the Government next week. We will debate that legislation when it is brought before us in the next few weeks.

Senator Darragh O'Brien also called for a debate on the draft guidelines of the Central Bank on mortgages. We will try to facilitate a debate on the matter. As the Senator said, the consultation process is in progress and if I can arrange it, I will have the Minister come to the House to debate the matter.

Senator Ivana Bacik raised the issue of violence against women in the home and called for a debate on the report on same of the justice committee. I will try to arrange that debate early in the new year.

The Senator also called for a debate on access to third level education. This is a debate other Members have sought and I will try to have the Minister for Education and Skills come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator David Norris spoke about the condition of several rental properties and dereliction in Dublin, particularly in the inner city. I would have thought it was a matter for Dublin City Council to address, but I agree with many of the Senator's sentiments about dereliction in many parts of the capital city.

The Senator also called for a debate on the situation in the Middle East. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will be in the House next Thursday for a debate on the issue.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton welcomed the new bike scheme in Galway and the benefits that would accrue from the point of view of tourism and health and well-being.

Senator Denis O'Donovan called for a progress report on NAMA and an update on its activities, in regard to which he mentioned a number of instances. I will try to have the Minister for Finance come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senators Paul Coghlan, Michael Mullins and Catherine Noone condemned the cutting down of the high cross on Carrauntoohil. I am sure it will be restored without further delay by the community in County Kerry.

Senator Sean D. Barrett spoke about the treatment and exploitation of staff in an embassy here. I agree totally with him. Such exploitation should not and will not be condoned. I am delighted about the awards the three ladies received which were well justified.

Senator Michael Comiskey complimented the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, whom he wished well in his efforts to solve the problems encountered in dealing with the beef crisis. He also commented on the closing of 14 Ulster Bank branches nationwide and the problems that would accrue for local communities as a result.

Senator Marc MacSharry spoke about coroners' costs and asked who would pick up the bill. As he said, up until now local authorities have been paying it. The costs are sizeable for some local authorities and I am aware that we have had a Coroners Bill on the agenda for several years. I will try to ascertain the current status of that Bill and note the Senator's points in that regard.

Senator Lorraine Higgins raised the issue of farm inspections and called for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to come to the House to address the matter. The Minister will be here in the next week or two to discuss the issue of sustainability in farming and there might be an opportunity to address the matter of farm inspections at that point.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell spoke about funding for non-Gaeltacht islands and the withdrawal of funds amounting to €600,000. I will raise the issue with the appropriate Minister - I presume the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Joe McHugh, but I am not sure - and try to get an answer for the Senator.

Senator Michael Mullins, among others, called on the ASTI and the TUI to withdraw strike threats arising from the proposed changes to the junior cycle programme. Members have expressed different opinions on the matter and the call for the teacher unions to ballot their members. I imagine the unions would state they had a mandate from their members in this regard. Ultimately, it is very important that both sides take stock and negotiate an amicable settlement. Senator Paschal Mooney also commented on the issue of junior cycle reform.

Senator John Kelly commented on the zoning and dezoning of land. That is a matter for the local authorities, although I agree with him that where people have spent so much money on the development of land, this should be taken into consideration.

Senator Feargal Quinn lauded the benefits of the leaving certificate applied programme and emphasised the need for further training and upskilling to fill up to 7,000 job vacancies. We all agree with him in that regard.

Senator Colm Burke discussed the €50 million investment in office space provision in Cork and the fact that over 60% of it had already been or was about to be taken up. There are several other good news stories on the jobs front in the Cork region. The Senator also raised the issue of the employment of agency staff in the HSE and highlighted the need to implement the recommendations made in various reports.

Senators David Cullinane and John Crown raised the issue of hospital waiting lists. Senator David Cullinane highlighted the number of people - 6,300 - in the south east, particularly in Waterford, who had been on waiting lists for over one year. I agree with him that this is far too many. As Senator John Crown mentioned, there are 50,000 people in this position nationally. There are vacancies for up to 23 consultants in University Hospital Waterford, which is certainly one of the reasons there are such long waiting lists. Another is the number of DNAs - persons who do not attend their appointments, of whom there are thousands - as a result of which others are suffering. This has not been highlighted sufficiently in Waterford or nationwide. Those who do not turn up for their appointments should be aware that they are depriving others who may need an appointment. They should notify their consultants and the clinics involved if they cannot make their appointments.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan, among others, congratulated Katie Taylor, probably one of our greatest ever sportspersons. It is appropriate that the Senator, another gold medalist, should sing her praises.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames called for a debate on the teaching profession and said teachers would go on strike because they felt unwanted. I do not think that is the reason they will go on strike. I will seek to have the Minister for Education and Skills come to the House to debate this subject, in addition to the other education matters that have been raised.

Senator Terry Brennan raised the issue of water metering costs. I am sure he will make the points made in the debate that will take place after the Order of Business.

Senator John Crown called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make representations to the Government of Pakistan to seek the release of a lady. I will speak to the Minister about this, but as he will be in the House on Thursday, the Senator may wish to make his points then. I note his points on waiting lists and the increase in the number of what he calls bureaucrats in the HSE.

Senator Catherine Noone referred to the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers on corporation tax and noted that it emphasised the transparency in the system.

Regarding Senator Rónán Mullen's contribution, it is difficult to achieve five in a row in any walk of life, but we must wait and see. Regarding changes to capital acquisition tax, the Finance Bill is being debated in the other House and will be brought before us in the coming weeks, at which stage there will be ample opportunity for him to raise the points he wishes to make.

Senator Imelda Henry congratulated the new Garda Commissioner, Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan, on her appointment. The Commissioner will have a very difficult task in many ways and I am sure we all wish her every success in her new position.

Senator Ned O'Sullivan raised the issue of junior cycle reform and emphasised that the marking of examination papers was not as easy as people thought. I note his points in that regard.