On the Northern Ireland issue, cool heads are needed now and people will decide the fate of Sinn Féin. However, regardless of the outcome for Sinn Féin, the nation needs peace above everything else. Everything needs to be stabilised. I would support having a debate on Northern Ireland.

Two other debates mentioned last week are very important. I have been out campaigning and the issue of crime is coming up frequently on the doorsteps. There is a need for urgent revision of the bail laws. Three houses in an estate in Newcastle were burgled last week.

I am outlining priorities here because this is the Order of Business. The other issue is the need for an urgent debate on housing, including housing certainty and rental certainty. People are being made homeless by being given their notice. They have no place to go and the councils have no homes.

My story for today is that the hospital in Galway is still in trouble. I have been asking myself what difference the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has made to the health system since his appointment. I do not know if he has made any difference. I know of a young woman in intense pain who has lost a stone in weight rapidly in the past month. She is vomiting and spent ten hours in the emergency department the night before last and was sent home at 8 a.m. She knows what her problem is. She went to a private hospital and got a diagnosis of the problem; she could afford to pay €220, but she cannot afford to pay €8,000 to €10,000 for the operation. This young woman presented herself at the emergency department and was simply told to come back again in three weeks. There is no guarantee that she will even be admitted in three weeks. It is wrong. At a fundamental level beds are needed. The HSE and the system are putting this young mother and probably many more through the hoops. She is otherwise a healthy woman and needs a procedure that she has had verified in a private hospital, but she cannot afford to have it. That shows that there is still a private-public sector divide. There is no universal health care when people need it. Money is not following the need. In addition, she could end up being treated by the same consultant in the public hospital who treated her in the private hospital. What has our great Minister for Health achieved? He takes one hospital and makes an example of it and says he will tackle the issue by coming up with a model that will work and then replicate it. Until he decides to come out of his Department, drills down, asks why it is happening and looks at how to bring about a solution, I do not believe anybody will solve the problem. I find this young woman's story very moving.

Senator Marc MacSharry called for a debate on Northern Ireland in the aftermath of yesterday's reports. As has been stated, we had a debate on Northern Ireland only a few weeks ago, but I will try to facilitate a further debate, given that so many Members have requested it in the aftermath of the reports mentioned.

The Senator also spoke about rural crime, which is a major issue. That is why the Government decided that the Garda Training College in Templemore would be reopened after it had been closed by the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government. We have an extra 500 gardaí on the streets and 600 more are provided for in the budget. Yesterday we had the announcement that 260 new high-speed vehicles were to be purchased and in action by the end of the year, in addition to the 370 already in place this year. The Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill, the bail Bill and the victims of crime Bill will all be brought before the House before Christmas. There will be a considerable amount of legislation dealing with the matter before Christmas. Senator Ivana Bacik mentioned that the heads of the victims of crime Bill were being discussed by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. I will try to ensure the Bill will be published as a Seanad Bill. We are willing to take it in the House as soon as it can be processed.

Senator David Cullinane spoke about the problems in the peace process. After so many years one would have thought normality had been restored in Northern Ireland, but, unfortunately, that is not the case. We need greater dialogue to address the problems that are holding up the process. In doing so we cannot forget the problems on the policing side. As Senator Paul Coghlan mentioned, there seems to be a code of omerta in place, a fear in the community in south Armagh and other areas of people who seem to be policing it but who are not part of the police force. The matter will need to be addressed by the Government on this side of the Border but, in particular, by the government on the other side of it. There seems to be the absence of a police presence which is allowing criminals to act with impunity. The matter was addressed last year in a report by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly which called for a task force to eliminate them. Some of them may have links with the Provisional IRA, but there is no doubt that its army council is still in existence, as we all know. Whether it is engaging in criminality is another matter.

Does the Leader have any evidence?

I do not believe it is orchestrating terrorism.

If the Leader has evidence, he should bring it forward.

It is obviously still in existence and, as has been mentioned, it is controlling Sinn Féin also. That is something that will have to be addressed.

That is not what was stated in the reports.

The Leader to continue, without interruption, please.

No one from Sinn Féin commented on the reports yesterday, including Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh who was present.

I waited until I had read them. The Leader should also read them.

That was surprising. I am glad that Sinn Féin Members have their briefing documents with them today.

I waited until I had read them. Perhaps more Members might do the same.

Senator Mary Moran reiterated the sentiments expressed by Senator Jim D'Arcy about the murder of Garda Tony Golden. She commended the people of Blackrock and Haggardstown who had acted as a community last week.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh called for a debate on the reports on Northern Ireland, including the Garda report. He also called for a further debate on the report of the working group the on direct provision system. We will try to facilitate that debate. As he knows, we have had a number of debates on the issue.

Senators Paschal Mooney and Terry Brennan referred to the debates at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications and Mr. Kieran Mulvey's presence there today. They are right in saying the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, IABA, has serious questions to answer. It showed complete disrespect to the Minister and the taxpayer. Whatever about funding the IABA, it is important that the high-performance unit be funded properly and that our boxers receive the financial support they need to continue their good work in bringing such success to the country. Perhaps the high-performance unit might be divorced from the IABA.

Senator Catherine Noone spoke about the proposed abolition of 1 and 2 cent coins, a development which has been welcomed by many. The Senator also commended Laya Healthcare for its Super Troopers programme which, as she outlined, has many benefits.

Senator Paul Bradford referred to the situation in Northern Ireland. He is 100% correct in stating we have come a long way. We have moved a long way from the time when we would come into the House and hear about bombings and killings which had taken place. As he indicated, the reports on the army council and other matters are significant. However, to many, they are not surprising. Even while discussing these problems, there is a need to move on and try to facilitate talks that will ensure the Executive will be up and running properly in Northern Ireland. Jaw-jaw is always better than war-war and we must ensure that will continue to be the case.

Senator Martin Conway spoke about Mediation Awareness Week and highlighted the positive benefits of mediation.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames referred to a number of matters about which she was concerned. I have addressed the issue of crime and the legislation which will be brought before the House. We will try to facilitate a debate on housing with the relevant Minister. I understand there will be further announcements in the next couple of weeks, at which stage perhaps we might invite the Minister to come before the House.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames might table a Commencement matter on the specific health item she mentioned. On what the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has done, there will be an extra 400 beds in the system before the end of the year. That is a very positive step in the health service.