The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, raised a question about the salaries of Garda trainees and new recruits. He is correct in that new trainee gardaí receive a basic allowance of €184 a week, plus a living allowance of €77.92. After 32 weeks training, they are attested and put on the first point of the garda salary scale, €23,171, rising to a maximum of €45,793 after 19 years service. The garda pay scale does not include allowances and does not reflect the full earnings of a garda. Newly attested gardaí are assigned to front-line duties and work the garda roster, work which attracts unsocial hours payments. Such payments amount to between 25% and 30% of their earnings. Even at the entry level of €23,171 and the lower end of the unsocial hours scale, the payments will add almost €5,800 to the salary of a new garda. This was the reply given by the Minister in the other House. I take on board what the Senator and Senator Paschal Mooney mentioned about salaries. The Leader of the Opposition is welcome to table a Commencement matter on the issue. However, these are the facts as outlined by the Minister in the other House and I do not think the answer would be any different.

Senator Darragh O'Brien also mentioned Fianna Fáil's policy on what he called "higher earners". Fianna Fáil describes those on salaries of €32,000 or more as higher earners. In the past two budgets it voted against provisions for tax increases and benefits for those earning less than €32,000.

We are saying there is a fairer and better way.

The Leader to continue, without interruption.

Whom Fianna Fáil describes as higher earners include those on €32,000-----

The Leader is giving incorrect information on the floor of the House.

-----but it can join Sinn Féin in having the same policies in this respect.

On the CFRAM study, I would worry if people were not given sufficient time and notice in the public consultation process, a point made by Senator Darragh O'Brien. I will raise the matter with the appropriate Minister, but the Senator will have the opportunity to raise it with the Minister next week.

Like the Cathaoirleach, Senator Ivana Bacik congratulated Mr. Peter Finnegan on being appointed to his new position. I join in the congratulations.

Senator Ivana Bacik also outlined the fact that the unemployment rate was down to 8.8%. It is extraordinary that we have such figures. When the Government took office, the unemployment rate was in excess of 15%. While it is now down to 8.8%, there is still an amount of work to be done. It is still the No. 1 priority of the Government to reward people in work and to get more people back into employment.

I also note Senator Ivana Bacik's comments on the upper age limit for entry into the Garda - 35 years - which she suggested should be examined. I will certainly bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Senator Ivana Bacik also raised the question of ending war crimes in Syria, something on which we would all agree. We commend all the humanitarian workers involved in that area.

Senators Darragh O'Brien, John Whelan, Jim D'Arcy, James Heffernan, Marie-Louise O'Donnell and Averil Power - I hope I did not miss anybody - spoke about the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and called for a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. All of the Senators have raised very important issues about public health and the plant in Portlaoise and so on. I have a note from the Department which states:

The role of the Minister and his Department is to provide a comprehensive environmental legislative framework through which the relevant authorities can operate effectively.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent public body established in July 1993 under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. It should be noted that the Minister is precluded under section 79(3) of the Act from exercising "any power or control in relation to the performance in particular circumstances by the Agency-----

Pontius Pilate.

Pontius Pilate.

The Leader to continue, without interruption.

I am replying. The note continues:

...of a function assigned to or by it under this Act", including the issuing and enforcement of licences by the EPA. As such, it would be inappropriate for the Minister to discuss the specific case raised as he has no statutory role in the relevant EPA decision making process. The Department is aware that, following concerns raised about the emissions from the facility in question in Seanad Éireann on 9th July 2014, the EPA was requested by the previous Minister to prepare a report on the operation of the facility in question, and that a report was subsequently published on 13th May 2015, and is available to the public on the EPA website.

As regards the future of the EPA, it should be noted that an independent Review of the EPA was carried out by an expert Review Group and was presented to the Minister in May 2011. The Report's general finding was that the EPA overall has provided "considerable benefit for Ireland's environment and for the health and well-being of its people". The EPA Review report, which is available from www.epa.ie, made a total of 58 recommendations, with an implementation plan developed to address these. A progress report on the implementation of the recommendations was published in August 2014, which shows that substantial progress has been made in terms of their implementation. Of the 58 recommendations, 43 have been fully completed/implemented with the remaining 15 being addressed either as on-going activities or still needing to be progressed for completion. Also, in the context of the Government's programme to reduce and rationalise statutory bodies, the EPA was further restructured as recently as 1st August 2014, when it was merged with the former Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).

In the circumstances, there are no plans to undertake any further restructuring of the EPA at this time, though it is the case that public bodies under the aegis of the Department are kept under regular, on-going review, and are also subject to scrutiny by the Oireachtas.

The Minister is confident that the EPA will continue to meet its mandate to safeguard and improve Ireland's environment.

That is the reply I received from the Department as the Order of Business progressed. I cannot facilitate a debate on the issue. While I saw the programme and certainly have grave reservations about the matter, I cannot support the amendment to the Order of Business as proposed in view of the Department's reply.

Senator Michael Mullins outlined his support for the families affected by flooding and commended all of the emergency services and voluntary workers involved. In addition, he outlined the damage caused to roads and the need for all local authorities to contact the Department and submit the reports requested of them by it.

Senator Sean D. Barrett congratulated all of the winners, as well as all of the contestants, in the Young Scientist Exhibition. It truly was remarkable and wonderful to see so many young people involved in this event.

As I mentioned, Senator John Whelan raised the public health issue in Portlaoise. I have addressed the matter.

Senator Paschal Mooney raised the issue of Garda recruitment and referred to the need for more gardaí. He is right; there certainly is a need for additional gardaí because even with the additional gardaí being provided by the Government through the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore, a number of gardaí have retired, others have taken leave of absence and so on, with the consequence that we are in a negative position. There is, therefore, a need for further recruitment of gardaí. However, it was bound to happen that numbers would fall. If one closes the training facility, one will not have new gardaí.

I am not sure it actually was closed.

That is precisely what the previous Government did.

I do not believe it closed it. The Leader should check his facts first.

The Leader to continue, without interruption. He is trying to reply to questions raised on the Order of Business.

Moreover, it continued to recruit to the Army.

If the Senator wants to deal with the semantics of it, either closing it or having no garda trained in it-----

The previous Government continued to recruit to the Army.

Whatever the case may be, there were no new gardaí.

What about pay?

I wonder what the Government would have done.

That is what the Senator's party presided over when it was in office.

What about pay and conditions? The Government has been in office for five years.

That is exactly what happened.

That was five or six years ago.

Please, Senator. The Leader to continue, without interruption.

Members are talking about the present. It is Government spin as fewer gardaí are on the beat.

Senator Jim D'Arcy complimented Ms Arlene Foster on her election as the new leader of the DUP. I believe all Members would wish to join in complimenting her on her appointment.

Senator Feargal Quinn referred to tourism and the need to increase the length of holiday visas, as other European countries in the Schengen area have done. I will certainly bring that matter to the attention of the relevant Minister. The tourism figures released for the past year far surpassed anybody's projections. A point was raised by Senator Paul Coghlan who used the phrase "price gouging". I can certainly testify, as can other Members present, that in the past two to three years hotel prices have increased by up to 40% in Dublin.

They are still rising.

Consequently, there is a need to retain value for money as otherwise there is no question but that it will be necessary to reconsider the VAT rate of 9%.

Senator Feargal Quinn also spoke about flooding and the need to clean up rivers and how in many cases this could be done on a voluntary basis. It is a point he should certainly raise next week when the Minister is present.

Senator Aideen Hayden referred to the dropout rate of students in third level education. She said it was due to many reasons, including the cost of accommodation, etc., and called for a debate on the issue.

While time is running out for Members in seeking debates on various issues, I will try to facilitate as many of them as possible, with the co-operation of the Ministers involved.

Senator Kathryn Reilly called for a debate on disability services for children and specifically mentioned Cavan in that regard. She could seek to have the issue addressed by way of a Commencement matter.

Senator Martin Conway spoke about the plight of rural general practitioners and their paramount importance to rural communities. As in the case of Senator Kathryn Reilly, this matter could be tabled for discussion as a Commencement matter, at which time the Senator could obtain the up-to-date position from the Minister for Health.

Senators James Heffernan and Averil Power referred to the plight of a Palestinian journalist imprisoned in Israel. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I am sure the Senators, individually, will also bring it to his attention.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell also referred to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and the position in Portlaoise, an issue I have addressed.

Senator Jim Walsh referred to the call made on 13 January 1800 by Daniel O'Connell for independence for Ireland and its right to have its own parliament. His call was followed on by Parnell and Redmond in seeking Home Rule. The Senator also spoke about the unification of Ireland. It is recognised by all sides that should a majority of the people of Northern Ireland vote in favour of a united Ireland, the British Parliament will agree to it. Relationships between Ireland and Britain have progressed and long may it continue.

Senator Catherine Noone raised the issue of obesity, a matter she has raised in the House on numerous occasions. She has suggested we are not doing sufficient in this regard and called for the introduction of a sugar tax. Her call was supported by Senator Gerard P. Craughwell. As we have previously debated the issue, perhaps she might consider tabling it for discussion as a Commencement matter, at which time she could obtain the up-to-date position from the Minister for Health.

Senators Gerard P. Craughwell, Terry Brennan and Hildegarde Naughton spoke about the untimely death of Christy O'Connor Jnr. who was a wonderful ambassador not only for his sport but also for the whole country. The presence of the Ryder Cup in the church during his funeral mass was seen as a great gesture.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell also raised the issue of having no-fry zones in schools in tackling the problem of obesity, a matter I have addressed.

Senator Marc MacSharry spoke about agriculture and called for a debate on the need to address anti-competitive practices in the meat industry. I will try to arrange for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House for such a debate. Deputy Simon Coveney has been one of the best Ministers for Agriculture we have had in many a long year. Naturally, I would say that, but I also believe it to be the case.

The Senator has been the best Leader of the Seanad for many a long year, too.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames raised a number of pertinent matters related to flooding, an issue on which we will have a debate next week. I hope the Senator will avail of the opportunity provided to raise with the Minister the issues she has highlighted.

Senator Averil Power called for a debate on the crisis in emergency departments. She also noted the need to recognise the state of Palestine, as was outlined in the other House last year.

Senator Hildegarde Naughton also raised the issue of flooding and referred to the meeting held yesterday with insurance industry interests.

The Taoiseach mentioned that the meeting had been very constructive, with all parties acknowledging the exceptional nature of recent events and the considerable distress caused to the victims of flooding. They agreed to work together to find the best possible ways to provide maximum insurance cover for all concerned. That would be the wish of everyone. We can have the debate sought next week.

I am afraid I cannot accede to the requests made to amend the Order of Business.