Senator Marc MacSharry proposed that the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, come to the House to debate the issue of flooding which was covered in most of the contributions on the Order of Business this morning. I have a comprehensive document that I could read to the House, but I have no intention of doing so this morning as in the other House yesterday the Minister of State gave a comprehensive reply to a Topical Issue debate on the issue which I suggest Members should read. However, as so many Members have asked for a debate and the Minister of State will attend the House for two and a quarter hours to deal with the Finance Bill 2015, I suggest that, with the consent of the House, we give him 15 minutes at the end of that debate to make a statement on flooding, what has happened and is about to happen. In this way I am trying to facilitate the House.

That is appreciated. Will the Leader allow 15 minutes for questions also?

I cannot allocate 15 minutes.

We will take-----

I propose that we amend the Order of Business to take Committee Stage of the Finance Bill at 12.45 p.m. to be adjourned not later than 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, and allow the Minister of State to make a statement on flooding at that time or immediately after Committee Stage has concluded. I am doing my best to facilitate the House. Therefore, I do not propose to address the question of flooding which was raised by so many Members. We will leave it to the Minister of State to deal with.

Senators Ivana Bacik, Darragh O'Brien, Cáit Keane, Eamonn Coghlan and Máiría Cahill spoke about Rule 68. I hope we will have a debate on that matter early in the new year. Certainly, respect must be given at all times to people's religious beliefs. Everybody will go along with this. The right of people to send their children to the schools to which they wish to send them is sacrosanct. On repealing Rule 68 and all other related matters, the Minister for Education and Skills stated last night that she intended to do it some time in January. We might, therefore, have an opportunity to discuss this and other education matters when we come back in January.

Senators Darragh O'Brien, Fidelma Healy Eames and Colm Burke spoke about the new drug for cystic fibrosis sufferers. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Health. I do not know whether the Senators have raised the issue in the Commencement debate. If they have not done so, I suggest they do so to receive a full reply on it from the Minister. One of the good things about this House is that we can call in a Minister to deal with a Commencement matter. Therefore, if a Senator is not receiving a reply from a Minister, I suggest he or she raise the matter in the Commencement debate.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh spoke about staffing in local authorities to deal with the HAP scheme, the provision of housing and Traveller accommodation. I agree with him that if Galway County Council has stated it applied for funding for the provision of Traveller accommodation but could not obtain it, the issue should be investigated as a matter of urgency because we have been told money is available for that purpose. There is no question that there is more than sufficient money available for local authorities that wish to draw down funding for the provision of housing.

Senator John Kelly spoke about companies involved in flood relief works in his constituency. Again, this may be a matter for the Minister of State to deal with.

Senator Colm Burke spoke about the provision of accommodation for homeless persons in Cork city and county and asked that some properties not in State ownership be funded.

It is a matter for the local authorities and the agency which owns the properties, but I am sure that if they were to apply to the Government for funding, it would be seriously considered by it.

Senator Feargal Quinn called for a debate on a report compiled by the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation entitled, Low Pay, Decent Work and a Living Wage. I agree with him that we should debate the document. The Minister is due to come to the House when we resume in the new year to discuss innovation and research, another matter on which we heard statements recently, as well as Government policy. I hope the Minister will discuss both issues.

Senator Cáit Keane called for a debate on the findings of the Growing Up in Ireland survey. We will try to facilitate her request, but it will not be taken before the end of next week.

Senators Gerard P. Craughwell, Rónán Mullen and Diarmuid Wilson mentioned the appalling way private investigation companies treated people. The Minister for Justice and Equality was in the House practically all of last week and will be here both this week and next. If Senators want her to come to debate the practices of private investigation companies, I suggest tabling a Commencement matter would enable them to receive answers from her.