I am delighted to have an opportunity to address the Leader this morning. He will recall that nine days ago I raised the issue of 17 homeless women in Dublin who were pregnant. It is a scandal. It has taken me one week to get one media outlet to cover the story. I compliment the journalist, Philip Ryan, of the Irish Independent, for covering it. I have met some of the young women in question who are pregnant and homeless. Some of them are living in squats, in tents behind homes or on sofas. Other Senators mentioned the issue. Cura, an agency that helps pregnant women, has only four places available. The situation is desperate. I have written to the Taoiseach but have received no response. I have written to the Minister for Health but have received no response. I wrote to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and received an acknowledgement. I met him, but nine days later nothing has been done. One of the girls is due to give birth in three days. Where will she go? It is bad enough to be pregnant and homeless, but imagine being homeless with a new baby. One of the women has diabetes, but she has no place to store insulin. She has to be out of the hostel at 9 am., which is unsustainable. I am delighted that the Cathaoirleach is giving me the opportunity to speak. The House will sit next week. I ask the Leader to help us to receive an emergency response, priority one status, to provide supportive accommodation for the women concerned. This is either a caring society or it is not. I will continue to raise this issue in the coming days. I am relying on the Leader to deal with this issue.

Is it true that there will be not be Commencement matters next week?

It is outrageous.