I acknowledge the comments made by Senators MacSharry, Comiskey and Michael Mullins regarding the delay in farm payments. It has been suggested that this is due to the digitising of information but I will clarify the situation with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and, hopefully, the matter will be addressed in early course. I appreciate the problems facing farmers and delays such as this should not be happening.

A number of Senators referred to rent controls and housing matters. All the proposals announced this week by the Minister will be contained in the residential tenancies Bill which will be brought before the House next Tuesday. If we do not complete Second and Committee Stages on Tuesday, we will complete Committee Stage on Wednesday and proceed to Report Stage the following week. It is intended to move immediately on the proposals that were announced and that this legislation will pass through both Houses as soon as is practicable. I assure the House that sufficient time will be allowed next Tuesday for Second and Committee Stages and if Committee Stage has not concluded on Tuesday, it will conclude on Wednesday.

Senator Bacik called for a debate on third level education and we will try to facilitate that. However, I cannot guarantee that the debate will be held before Christmas because we have quite an amount of legislation due before us. On the point made by Senators Bacik and Norris on national and Dublin traffic flows, I would not like to usurp the powers of the local authorities as they are responsible for the traffic flows within their areas and it is a matter for the city councils to deal with traffic management plans. They are the appropriate bodies in which to debate that topic.

Senators Norris, Kelly, Mooney, Craughwell, Conway and others referred to banking practices. Banking practices are changing and this is creating difficulties for people. The matter was raised last week. The banks do not realise that some people, old and young, just do not have computers or iPhones and that some customers prefer to go into a bank and be dealt with courteously by real people, but that is all changing.

As has been pointed out by Senator Mooney, we may have a new banking system in post offices. I am not aware that any government is holding up plans by An Post to extend banking services but I will certainly inquire about the matter. People have choices in respect of banks. I know people do not like changing banks if they are with one for 20, 30 or 40 years but they may have to in order to get the proper customer service that they need and should get. I would be in full agreement with Senator Norris and the other Senators in their sentiments regarding banks.

Senator Paul Coghlan called for a debate on the Stormont House talks when they have been concluded. It is hoped that they will be concluded this week. The Senator also mentioned cross-Border smuggling, fuel laundering and those blue alert signs on roads, which are put up by paramilitaries and criminals and ask that any problems would be reported to them. That type of system will certainly have to stop as will the lawlessness that is going on in that part of the country. It is totally unacceptable and needs to be addressed by both Governments.

Senators O'Donovan and Landy raised the problems with the spread of Japanese knotweed, which is undermining foundations, roads, etc. I will try to arrange a debate but am sure it will be raised at the appropriate joint committee. It is a very serious problem.

Senator Barrett made a very good point about the 17 year old gentleman who scored for Finn Harps in the recent game. It was a very good comment about a political football, considering that his father had stood for elections last year. I note the Senator's point in that regard.

Senator Naughton discussed the report of the Immigrant Council of Ireland on prostitution and the need for the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill to be progressed and I take the Senator's point. The Bill was initiated in this House. The Senator also raised Galway's application for the capital of culture 2020. We wish Galway well but I also wish the Three Sisters 2020 presentation from Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford well. I can assure colleagues that will be a very strong presentation.

We will have the results on Thursday.

May the best region or city jump the fence. I am certainly hoping that it will be the Three Sisters 2020 project.

We will invite Senator Cummins to Galway.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke on Traveller accommodation and I note his points. I am sure the matter is being addressed by the joint committee. On the Senator's call for a further debate on fishing, I will try to get the Minister to come to the House on that matter. I note the Senator's points about the huge trawler that is fishing off the west coast and about inquiring as to what inspections are taking place. I do not think inspections are announced. The inspectors just appear, as the Senator knows, and I am sure that may happen at some stage for trawlers of this size also.

Senator Colm Burke welcomed the excellent news of the creation of 1,000 extra jobs in Cork by Apple. He also made a very valid point that the spin-offs from the creation of these jobs are significant for other small and medium-sized enterprises.

Senator Craughwell raised the point which Senator Norris raised previously about the Clerys workers. As I mentioned to Senator Norris yesterday, I would be in full agreement that there should be a cooling-off period and people should not be notified within hours that their jobs are gone. That type of thing should be banned, there is no question about it. The Workplace Relations Bill passed through the House not so long ago. I do not know whether those points were made at that time. I agree with the Senators' sentiments and am sure there will be a mechanism so that this type of situation does not happen again.

Senator Keane called for a debate on housing and the housing assistance payment, HAP, and rental accommodation, RAS, schemes. I am sure that can be encompassed by our debate on the national tenancies Bill next week. I note the Senator's comments on the male domination of the airwaves and can tell her that is certainly not the case in this House.

Senator Walsh spoke on new jobs. As he knows, governments create the climate in which jobs are created. The high tax policies of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin will do nothing to attract such jobs to this country. That is why when people are voting-----

There was unprecedented growth during the Fianna Fáil era. Senator Cummins knows that. We had 7%, 8% and 9% growth.

When people are voting, they will consider the type of policies enunciated by people.

There was full employment.

On the issue of housing raised by Senator Healy Eames, we will have the debate on the tenancies Bill and €3.5 billion has been set aside for housing. Several projects are already up and running but, unfortunately, one cannot say, "Gillie, gillie, here is a house". They have to be built and it takes time.

When will they be built?

It will take another five years to do that.

They are being built already.

When will they be ready?

Houses are being built already, as I said, in many places. It is a bit rich coming from Senator Walsh-----

We should not forget the prefabs.

It is a bit rich for Senator Walsh to say that when he was on the council, they were building council houses by the dozen. When he went off the council, his Government stopped building local authority houses so maybe he should go back on it again.

I note Senator Comiskey's points about farm payments. Senator Noone welcomed another 300 jobs in Dublin. I note her points on the Dublin city development plan. I do not know whether that no-fry zone will fly but am sure the Senator will raise it with our council colleagues in those areas.

Senator Conway spoke on the banks and Senator Mary Ann O'Brien commented on the sad passing of Pat Eddery, one of the greatest jockeys Ireland has ever produced and winner of 14 classics. I remember vividly many moons ago his ride on Grundy to win the Derby. He rode Pebbles to win the Breeders' Cup, as the Senator mentioned. More than 4,600 wins was an extraordinary feat indeed and we sympathise with his family and the entire racing industry, which will mourn his passing.