Senator Ivana Bacik spoke about the Road to the Rising event. She complimented the city council and all those involved in the event over the Easter period and called for a further debate on the Government's programme of commemorations. I am sure the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, would be quite willing to come to the House to have a debate with us on that matter.

Senator Ivana Bacik and others, especially Senators Michael Mullins and Catherine Noone, spoke about the laws the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, intended to bring before the House, in particular the criminal justice (burglary of dwellings) Bill.

The Bill will target repeat offenders. Senator Michael Mullins asked if the draft Bill would be debated in the House, as well as at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. I will certainly bring the matter to the attention of the Minister. Perhaps we might be able to have a debate on the draft Bill before it is published and brought before the House.

Senator Feargal Quinn spoke about the Seanad reform proposals. There is a comprehensive document which all Members should read. I am in the process of arranging for the chairman of the body, Dr. Maurice Manning, a former Leader of the House, to come to the House for a debate on the matter and to answer questions, probably within the next two weeks. We can hear statements and have a question and answer session.

Would it not be better to see it first?

I understand the working group will produce a draft Bill, possibly to coincide with our debate on the matter. It may be as soon as that. Certainly, we will be arranging a debate on the matter which I hope to have, possibly, on 5 May. I have not arranged it yet, but perhaps it might take place before then. I urge people to examine the proposals made. They are comprehensive and mainly to do with the election of Seanad Éireann rather than with what goes on in the House, although there are some references to this also. Dr. Manning and other members of the group are quite willing to come to the House. I imagine that we will welcome him and that we will have a comprehensive debate on the proposals made in early course.

Senator Feargal Quinn also referred to the concerns of Age Action Ireland about nursing homes changes. My information is that there are no plans before the Government on the issue. The fair deal scheme has been mentioned by Senators David Cullinane and Colm Burke. I do not know from where Senator David Cullinane got his figures - he referred to a figure of 7,850 people. As Senator Colm Burke mentioned, a total of 22,000 people are participating in the scheme, at a cost of €970 million. The Senator made a good point about the assets recovered to date since 2009, which amount to only €7.5 million. Certainly, that issue will have to be looked at in the context of funding. I imagine it is something we can debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who I am sure would be willing to come to the House for a debate on it.

Senator Paul Coghlan spoke about the major fire in Killarney National Park. He complimented the fire service, the Air Corps and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. He also emphasised the need to be vigilant at all times.

Senator Thomas Byrne commented on the Ireland's Ancient East proposal announced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. It is an exciting project similar to the Wild Atlantic Way. I am informed that Fáilte Ireland has spent the past year, in consultation with key stakeholders, working to develop the initiative, which is to include tourism attractions and businesses throughout the region. Following much consultation and deliberation, Ireland's Ancient East will be crafted with four distinct thematic pillars: ancient Ireland; early Christian Ireland; mediaeval Ireland and Anglo Ireland, including Ireland's great houses and gardens. All areas in the east and south east will be covered by the initiative. Fáilte Ireland's research suggests an initiative along these thematic lines has the potential to deliver an extra 600,000 overseas visitors, lead to tourism growth of over 20% in the region and an increase in visitor revenue of almost 25%, or €950 million, in total by 2020. It is an exciting project which I imagine will enjoy the same success that we witnessed with the Wild Atlantic Way. I compliment everyone involved in launching the project.

Senator John Kelly called for a further debate and an update from the Minister for Finance on mortgage interest rates. He also called for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on young-old farmers and digital mapping. I am sure the Minister would be quite willing to come to the House to discuss these issues. He has dealt with young-old farmers, as they are called, in the budget and the Finance Act.

I have dealt with the matters raised by Senators David Cullinane and Colm Burke. Senator Colm Burke welcomed the IMO agreement with the Department on GP treatment for children aged under six years. This will be of great benefit to many hard-pressed families and has been welcomed by the vast majority of GPs.

Senators Terry Leyden and Michael Mullins referred to the Ibrahim Halawa case, on which I gave a comprehensive reply before the break. The Irish ambassador in Cairo is monitoring the position closely and representations have been made to the Egyptian ambassador and authorities. I can assure the Senators the Government is doing everything possible to secure the release of the Irish citizen concerned.

Senator Jim D'Arcy referred to the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill. He welcomed many of its proposals, while disagreeing with others. He called for the Minister for Education and Skills to come to the House for a debate on the matter. I can inform him that the Minister will come before the House next Wednesday to discuss the NCSE inclusion support services. There will be an opportunity at that time and later to discuss various matters with her.

It is obvious that Senator John Crown enjoyed the break because he raised five or six matters. There was a disagreement on psychiatric services between the gentleman in question and the HSE. He was suspended but has been reinstated. I understand the dispute concerned staffing in a brand new state-of-the-art facility in Cork. I am glad that he has been reinstated and hope any difference will be ironed out as a matter of urgency.

Senator John Crown also referred to burglaries, an issue which I addressed, and asked for them to be classified as crimes against the person rather than property. These are matters we can discuss with the Minister for Justice and Equality if she comes before the House to deal with the draft Bill.

On international tobacco companies taking the Government to court for the laws we passed on tobacco, the Senator has novel ideas for proscribing such companies. I am sure all avenues will be addressed and examined by the State to defend against such companies.

Senator Tom Sheahan referred to EU moneys, inlcuding single farm payments paid to men and women with herd numbers. Their names and addresses are being published and he believes this sets a dangerous precedent. I see his point, especially as we have discussed the burglaries in many parts of the country. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to see whether anything can be done.

Senator Rónán Mullen referred to problems in the rental sector with the availability of suitable housing. That is the reason the Government is putting €1.5 billion into social housing in the next couple of years. Major progress has been made in dealing with unfinished housing estates throughout the country.

There will be an opportunity for local authorities under the new scheme in place to purchase and perhaps complete unfinished estates and use them for social housing. A myriad of areas not available previously are now open to local authorities as they try to tackle the housing problems in some parts of the country. Unfortunately, there is an oversupply of houses in other parts of the country. It is contradictory to have major problems in major cities such as Galway, Cork and Dublin at a time when there is an oversupply in many rural areas. Unfortunately, during the boom houses were built in areas where nobody wanted to live.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton spoke about the backlog in the High Court in Galway, especially of personal injury cases. She called for more efficient management of services. While that is a matter for the Courts Service, I will certainly bring it to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan mentioned two sportsmen who had recently passed away. Ray Treacy was a great international footballer. I had the pleasure of seeing him score many goals for Ireland. Dave Billings was a Dublin all-Ireland footballer.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan also made a point about the danger drones might cause for air traffic and called for greater regulation in that regard. I suggest that if he was to raise the matter during the Commencement debate, he might receive a comprehensive reply from the relevant Minister.

The final two speakers, Senators Michael Mullins and Catherine Noone, spoke about criminal justice matters. Senator Catherine Noone also spoke about the online abuse of female politicians. I do not think the problem is confined to female politicians. It happens to all politicians.