Senator Thomas Byrne proposed an amendment to the Order of Business similar to the one proposed yesterday. As I mentioned then, there is an ongoing Garda investigation of this matter. I appreciate that it is very serious and have asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will be in a position to come to the House, even for a short time next week. That request is with her. She has given an undertaking that when the sizeable amount of legislation she has in hand and ready to be introduced in the House has been completed, she will be willing to have a comprehensive debate not only on this issue but also on law and order, a debate many Senators have requested. Unfortunately, I cannot accept the proposed amendment to the Order of Business.

With regard to the Slane bypass, Senator Thomas Byrne said that an appointment had been broken. I am sure a simple telephone call to the Minister's office would indicate why he could not attend this meeting and why he did not attend another. As the Senator is aware, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is very busy. He is required to be in Parliament to address matters such as Aer Lingus and many other transport issues. I do not suggest the Slane bypass project is not as important as these, as it certainly is to the people concerned, but I am sure the Minister will rearrange the meeting in early course.

Senator Ivana Bacik asked about the resumed Committee Stage debate on the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill. I do not have good news in that regard. There is nothing planned and it will be after the Easter recess before I will have news on the matter. The Senator also welcomed the proposals relating to gender inequality at third level and the committee that had been established. They are welcome. I also note her points about the plain packaging of tobacco, an issue which was raised by a number of Members yesterday, in support of the Government's stance on the issue.

Senator Feargal Quinn spoke about absenteeism being a major problem, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. He also referred to the measures announced in the United Kingdom yesterday. We will be dealing with Committee Stage of the Workplace Relations Bill today when the matter could be raised. I am sure the Senator will get an opportunity to raise the points made directly with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

The issue of calorie counts on menus was referred to.

It has been highlighted that some restaurateurs have difficulties but food chains do not. Senator Cáit Keane mentioned the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's website menucal.ie which will easily calculate the calorie count. I appreciate that there will be difficulties for some restaurateurs in adhering to the proposed calorie counts on menus, but I hope sense will prevail and that there will not be heavy-handedness when it comes to implementing the scheme.

Senators Cáit Keane, Denis O'Donovan and others spoke about drugs and gangland crime, issues which have been debated for some time by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. A report will come from the committee and when it is complete, we undertake that it will be debated in the House. This may give an opportunity for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to discuss the issues of drugs, gangland crime and law and order.

Senator Terry Leyden called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to debate the situation in the Middle East. The Minister has come to the House twice already this year to discuss the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine. The Senator also called for the Minister to discuss the situation in Azerbaijan. I would like the Minister to come to the House to discuss the situation in Northern Ireland also and have requested that he do so, even though he has come to the House on a number of occasions to discuss the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine and other areas of conflict.

Senator Aideen Hayden spoke about local area partnerships bidding for projects. I appreciate what she stated in that regard, but there is a need to avoid duplication. I understand what she stated about funding being put in place in April for projects already up and running and the difficulties which may accrue as a result. I hope the matter can be teased out with the relevant Minister.

Senator Sean D. Barrett complimented the Minister of State, Deputy Gerald Nash, on his appointments to the Low Pay Commission. Those involved are eminent individuals. I note the Senator's comments on Aer Lingus, a matter which is being debated by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. I assure the Senator that there are no done deals with anybody. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport will consider everything which will come before him and a decision will be made by the Government at that time, not beforehand. I assure the Senator that there are no done deals and that nothing has been entered into.

Senator Colm Burke welcomed the establishment of the national rare diseases office and complimented the Ministers involved. He also outlined the Government's position on the construction of the new Cork Prison, which is long overdue.

Senator David Cullinane spoke about JobBridge and new proposals from Sinn Féin, many of which are a rehash of the policy of the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English. There are some good points among them, which I appreciate. They are not like Sinn Féin's budget proposals which can be found in the fiction section of any good bookshop. We welcome its proposals in this regard, even though many of them are a rehash of what the Government has in place.

Senator John Kelly spoke about turf cutting and raised bogs. We have had debates on this issue and perhaps the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, might come to the House to discuss it. I do not believe she has come to the House to discuss it.

I note the points made by Senator Denis O'Donovan about Cork Airport and law and order which I believe I have addressed. We have many recruits in the Garda College in Templemore which we reopened and more are to come. There will be a constant flow of gardaí coming on stream.

Senator Michael Mullins spoke about justice and law and order issues and investigating people with the trappings of wealth with seemingly no evident means of income. This is something the Garda and the Criminal Assets Bureau are constantly examining. I appreciate the Senator's comments on the link-up with the Department of Social Protection in this regard.

Senator Rónán Mullen spoke about the cost of car insurance for those returning from abroad. It is strange that evidence of no claims bonuses produced by people who were driving abroad is not taken into consideration. This is a matter which should be addressed. It is wonderful to be speaking about people who have come back; many people are returning to set up their own business in the country. I appreciate what the Senator stated and will bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister.

Senator Terry Brennan spoke about burglaries in his area. I note his points in that regard.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh spoke about Seachtain na Gaeilge. We will have the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, in the House on 11 March to discuss the Irish language strategy, a point which was also raised by Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú. The Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, has been invited to come to the House to discuss various issues, including the diaspora strategy and policy. I hope to secure a debate with him before St. Patrick's Day.

Senator Michael D'Arcy spoke about IDA Ireland and the disposing of assets over a number of years and local authorities not having land for development. This could be the subject of a Commencement debate in which the Senator could get the answers to the questions he has raised.

Senator Thomas Byrne has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on crime, justice and policing, in view of the circumstances surrounding the escape of a prisoner from custody during a hospital visit, be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Yes it is because this is too urgent to leave until next week.