Senator Marc MacSharry raised the question of Aer Lingus. The Government will make a decision on the sale of the 25% share after considering all points from the committee established to inform its deliberations.

I was asked for a debate on the budget of the Department of Health. The Minister was in the House recently to discuss the health service plan and the matter was discussed then. We had a very comprehensive debate on the budget, but we can certainly try to get the Minister to come here again to discuss that matter and those raised by Senator Marc MacSharry this morning.

The debt issue at Sligo County Council was the subject of a Commencement matter recently when the Minister provided all of the information he had available. Budgets are the responsibility of local authorities which must run their finances in a proper manner. While I note the Senator's points about the expenditure in Sligo on many infrastructure items, in particular, in the past few years, the Minister answered comprehensively only a couple of weeks ago.

Senator Aideen Hayden raised the issue of whether we needed to change the regulatory framework for credit unions and asked for a debate on the matter. She also raised the issue of housing.

We had a comprehensive debate on the matter last evening when the Minister was very forthcoming on the Government’s housing strategy. The Senator called for a further debate on home ownership, a debate we will try to arrange.

Senators Jillian van Turnhout, Catherine Noone and Paul Bradford referred to the Stop Out of Control Drinking campaign and questioned the fact that it was funded by a drinks company. They suggested it was a public health issue which could be dealt with by other agencies in the system rather than have a campaign sponsored by a drinks company. They also called for a debate on the issue of alcohol-related harm. We have had debates on this issue in the past, but I will ask the Minister to come to the House to address the matter again.

Senators Feargal Quinn and Terry Leyden referred to the very good debate in the House on GSOC, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. They also commended the efforts of several gardaí in Galway yesterday. I join in congratulating those gardaí on their wonderful work, as well as the work done by all members of the force across the country.

Senator Feargal Quinn also referred to the work of Oireachtas committees. Much of the work done by Oireachtas joint committees goes unnoticed by the public and journalists who tend to go for juicier points made at some committees. However, all committees work hard day in and day out, work which is not recognised. I would like feedback from Members if they consider the arrangement for Commencement debates rather than Adjournment debates is more successful.

No, it is not.

The idea behind the change was to give Members an opportunity to attend committee meetings and the Order of Business later.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton welcomed the allocation of €320,000 in additional funding for festivals nationwide. She also welcomed the awarding of a purple flag for Galway and lauded many initiatives in her native city in this regard.

Senator Katherine Zappone called for a debate on the impact of taxation and fiscal policy on human rights, a debate for which she has called previously. I will try to get the Minister for Finance or the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, as she requested, to attend the House to debate the issue which was the subject of a Christian Aid conference this morning.

Senator Denis Landy congratulated all involved in the 90th national coursing meeting in Clonmel, County Tipperary recently. He highlighted the activities of some people who had interfered with the coursing event. When we debate the Greyhound (Amendment) Bill in the House in the coming months, it will be an opportunity for him to raise these points.

Senator Terry Leyden called for profile checks of people coming into the country. One cannot discriminate against one set of people coming here from elsewhere in Europe. All the same, I am sure the Garda is keeping everything under control and checking any person with a criminal record coming into the country. The force does great work in that regard.

Senator Michael Comiskey complimented the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the old-young farmer scheme.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh does not seem to realise unemployment has decreased from 15% to 10.6%. On his question about the recent arrests of individuals in connection with protests at Jobstown, that is a matter for the Garda and will continue to be so.

Senator Paschal Mooney raised the issue of pay and conditions, as did Senator Marc MacSharry several weeks ago, for new Garda recruits. A low pay commission will be set up by the Government. I am sure the point about the early entry rate for civil servants and gardaí, in particular, will form part of the commission’s work.

Senator Cáit Keane referred to the increasing use of stolen mobile phones in burglaries and the new technology available to switch off stolen mobile phones. I suggest she raise the issue as a Commencement matter to discuss it with the Minister.

On university degrees and University Panel Senators, in my eyes all Senators are equal.

Some Senators are more equal than others.

No, that is George Orwell; it is not the case here.

Senator Paschal Mooney praised Fáilte Ireland on the greening of prominent buildings across the world on St. Patrick’s Day. I also compliment the agency on its efforts in this regard.

Senator Jim D’Arcy referred to the inclusion support scheme announced by the Minister for Education and Skills which will bring together several services in the education sector. I agree with the Senator that it is a matter the Minister should come into the House to discuss and I am sure she will be anxious to do so to explain the scheme.

I noted Senator Sean D. Barrett’s point about the sale of the 25% stake in Aer Lingus. The onus is now on British Airways to provide proper figures. We all agree with the Senator in that regard.

Senator Catherine Noone outlined the possibility of a refund on returned plastic bottles to combat the litter problem in Dublin. I am sure the Dublin local authorities will take her observations on board. She could raise the points made with councillors.

Senator Paul Bradford, among several other Senators, called for a further debate on housing and home ownership. While we had a debate on housing last evening, I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, will come into the House to discuss the matter again. Senator Paul Bradford also referred to the excessive use of alcohol and mentioned that no strategy in combating the problem should be led by the drinks industry.

Senator Mary White does not agree with the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on the posting of calories on menus. The idea has been embraced by several restaurants, but there are other for which it will present difficulties. I would not say, however, that the posting of calories on menus was causing chefs to move abroad. That is stretching it a little too far.

Senator James Heffernan raised the issue of criminality engaged in by some in the Traveller community. There is criminality in all sections of the community, a point which the Senator clarified. He called for a debate on law and order, a debate we will try to arrange with the Minister for Justice and Equality.