Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke about the drug Fampyra. It is now available, which is to be welcomed. The Senator made a number of points about the Government withdrawing it, a matter about which we had long debates. The Government did not withdraw funding. The drug was introduced as part of a pilot scheme with the drug companies and they withdrew it. Thankfully, the problem has been solved and the drug will be available to people suffering from multiple sclerosis.

The Senator also spoke about the ambulance service in Swords and Balbriggan. Perhaps he might table a Commencement matter to receive an update.

The Senator also called for a debate on the need for a national transport plan.

Certainly, when such a plan is published, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, will be quite willing to come to the House to debate the matter.

The Senator proposed an amendment to the Order of Business. He is certainly entitled to his interpretation of the findings of the Fennelly report, but I do not propose to accept his amendment to the Order of Business.

Senator Ivana Bacik spoke about the situation in Syria and the migrant crisis, as did Senators Fidelma Healy Eames and Michael Mullins. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames's comment on throwing refugees into Monasterevin is regrettable. There will be no throwing of refugees anywhere; they will be treated with the utmost respect.

What about the system of direct provision?

The report of the interdepartmental task force has been sought by Senator Michael Mullins-----

Spending seven to ten years in direct provision accommodation does not amount to respect.

The Leader to continue, without interruption, please.

As I said, the report of the interdepartmental task force has been sought by Senator Michael Mullins. I can assure the House that, as requested by quite a number of Members, we will have a debate next Thursday on a motion following the Minister's meeting in the European Union yesterday on the refugee crisis.

Senator Katherine Zappone made proposals about rent controls and requested that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, be brought to the House as a matter of urgency. The question of housing was also raised by Senators Aideen Hayden, David Cullinane, Paul Coghlan and Jim Walsh. Many Members complimented Threshold on its report and Senator Jim Walsh came up with some very good points. However, it has to be pointed out that the Government of which his party was part abandoned the building of social housing during the boom, when the country was awash with money and it was wondering how it could spend it. That is one area in which it could have spent it, but it did not do so.

I presume Senator John Crown was looking for permission to publish his Bill. In that case, I will agree to the amendment proposed to the Order of Business, that No. 15, Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015, be taken before No. 1.

Senator Jim D'Arcy referred to the regrettable choice of language used by a Sinn Féin councillor in describing as west Brits the people who ran Irish rugby. It was a disgraceful comment. As the Senator pointed out, the Irish rugby team is a 32-county team, an all-island team, and we wish it success in its ventures in the Rugby World Cup in the coming weeks. Such comments are bigoted and we are adding credence to them in discussing them in the House.

I note Senator Terry Leyden's comments on the Web Summit. It is to be regretted that it is to be moved next year for the many reasons outlined. They include the exorbitant prices charged by some hotels this year during the summit when they had a captive audience. This is something we will obviously have to discuss at a later stage when we are debating tourism related matters.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell is certainly vehemently opposed to the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Fianna Fáil. She is correct in what she said about Senator Jimmy Harte. He is a man who always despised violence by the IRA. I remember vividly his description of his family house which was attacked by it during the Troubles. He is a man who has always advocated the reunification of the country by peaceful means and with the consent of the majority in Northern Ireland, as his father advocated. Many of the people who advocated it long before the Good Friday Agreement was signed were not taken seriously and frowned upon.

However, it is a policy which the Senator always advocated, as his family did before him.

Senator Pat O'Neill spoke about rural crime and welcomed the publication of the new burglary of dwellings Bill and the announcement of the allocation of €30 million for village and town renewal. He also made a very important point about the importance of people keeping the serial numbers of items in their houses. As he said, many of these items are put up for sale; it is important, therefore, that they keep the serial numbers to give to the Garda to prevent crimes and catch those who perpetrate these crimes.

Senator Sean D. Barrett referred to people with disabilities and said payments should be made to them rather than to providers. He is right in that regard. It is something Senator Tony Mulcahy has raised on several occasions in debates on services for people with disabilities. I am sure the Minister has received the message at this stage, but I will certainly bring the matter to his attention.

Senator Sean D. Barrett also recalled the deaths during the summer of several public service workers when on duty. We express our sympathy to their families.

Senator Michael Comiskey asked about and welcomed the replacement of the disadvantaged areas scheme by a new scheme and the moneys being provided for it. He also asked for the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, to be invited to the House in order that the question of rates in rural towns could be examined.

Senator Paschal Mooney, rightly, recalled the fact, which I acknowledge, that Senator Diarmuid Wilson, the Opposition Whip, always ensured a pairing for Senator Jimmy Harte during his illness. This must be acknowledged. It continued the tradition followed in the last two Seanaid. In the last Seanad when a Fianna Fáil Senator was seriously ill, we provided for a pairing. It is the right and decent thing to do. We thank Senator Diarmuid Wilson for doing so.

That is very generous of the Leader. I thank him.

Senator John Kelly spoke about the need for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Health to get together in the case he mentioned regarding the housing adaptation grant. He is right; there is a need for more joined-up thinking in this regard. I note his point about wind turbines. I am sure we will have a further debate on that matter in the near future.

Senator Feargal Quinn referred to the legislative programme. There is a very ambitious legislative programme for this session, but I cannot throw any light on the matter of Seanad reform. The last information I received was that an implementation group was to be set up to progress the proposals made in the Manning report, but I am not sure whether any progress has been made even on that aspect of the matter.

We will leave it until after the general election. It will be handier.

I will revert to the Senator on the matter when I have any news on it.

I also note Senator Feargal Quinn's points about road safety measures, German car makers and the delays in dealing with the matter. I take note of his point about defibrillators. The legislation was accepted on Second Stage at the time and the Government indicated that it might come back on the matter. In the meantime there was a report from HIQA which suggested it would be far too expensive to implement the measures contained in the Bill that had been put forward. However, as I would have thought further proposals would have been brought to the House, I will inquire about the matter.

Senator Paul Coghlan complimented Threshold on its work. He questioned the power of large multiples which were allowed to locate on the edge of towns the length and breadth of the country. Certainly, the problems in town centres arose as a result, but I do not think we can turn the clock back.

It is regrettable that this was allowed to happen, but we are where we are in that regard.

I think I have addressed the points raised by Senators Fidelma Healy Eames and Michael Mullins about the refugee crisis. I confirm that we will have a debate on Thursday next on that topic.

I asked the Leader if he would arrange a debate on the rural governance programme with the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan.

We will certainly try to arrange it.