I will respond first to Senator Mark Daly and the other Senators who referred to the situation in rural Ireland, the rural GP practice scheme in particular. The Government is committed to ensuring patients throughout the State will continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas and also in certain urban areas. The rural GP practice is top of the agenda in the discussions on the new GP contract under way with the Irish Medical Organisation. In fact, Ireland has a very low rate of GP vacancies nationwide. As of 1 January, there were 15 GMS lists without a permanent GP in place out of a national total of more than 2,400, which represents a figure of only 0.06%. Of the 15 vacancies, only five are in rural areas. Half of the 15 vacancies are recent and have occurred in the past 12 months. However, each of the lists has either a locum or a neighbouring GP who has taken it over and is providing the full range of GP services for patients. Patients continue to have access to GP and primary care services. I hope this allays the concerns of Senators about this very specific issue.

On the broader issue of unemployment in rural areas, the Government has consistently stated job creation has been a top priority since it took office in 2011 when the rate of unemployment was over 15%. We have seen a dramatic drop in the level of unemployment, which must be welcomed, regardless of which side of the House we are on. Action Plan for Jobs 2016 was launched this week. It was noted that the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched with a target of creating 100,000 extra jobs by 2016. Many people, including some Members across the floor of the House, criticised that plan at the time as being unrealistic. However, according to the figures of the independent Central Statistics Office, the target was hit 21 months early in 2015. There are now more than 135,000 additional people at work today than when the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched. That is a significant and remarkable achievement. The Action Plan for Jobs 2016 has set a target of creating 50,000 extra jobs this year. To achieve it 304 actions are outlined. They are particularly focused on the creation of jobs outside the Dublin area. Following on the successful roll-out of the regional jobs plans, further actions to support regional job creation will be supported by funds of €530 million. There is also a national cluster initiative focused on strengthening rural initiatives to ensure job creation. We can see an impressive roll-out of jobs within the agrifood industry, as well as the food and drink industry.

Senator Mark Daly acknowledged the UN Human Development Index which has produced the very welcome statistic that Ireland is the seventh best place in the world in which to live, which is great news for us all.

With his customary eloquence, the Senator also spoke about the commemorations of the 1916 Rising this year, to which we all look forward. In particular, we look forward to the 97th, rather than the 98th, anniversary of the first meeting of the First Dáil in January 1919. Colleagues will recall that in 2009 a significant commemoration was held in the Mansion House and I hope we will have a similarly significant commemoration in 2019 to mark the centenary.

The proposed National Anthem Protection Bill 2016 was referred to. I have not seen it, but, as Senator Martin Conway said, it appears to be eminently worthy of discussion among the Whips and deserves support. I disagree with Senator John Crown when he says there was a civil war on the issue. Any colleague who spoke on either side of the House was very supportive of the principle of the Bill.

Senator Martin Conway in calling for a debate on tourism pointed to the great success of The Gathering and the Wild Atlantic Way, which has driven job creation and local enterprise across the west. I agree with the Senator in his call for a debate on Brexit, a matter of huge significance for Ireland. While we will look to arrange debates on issues raised by colleagues, there will be a full legislative schedule in the next two weeks. As such, it will be difficult to find time for the making of statements.

A number of issues were raised by Senator David Norris. He referred to a meeting he had today with members of the TUI from Cork Institute of Technology whom other colleagues and I have also met. I have a very strong personal connection with Cork Institute of Technology which is a superb third level institution which offers a high quality education. It eminently deserves technological university status. The Technological Universities Bill was referred to by some colleagues and the Government has been pushed in recent years to bring it forward.

By whom?

By people from all corners but especially in the south east. There has been massive momentum behind it, but it is important to get its terms right.

I understand Senator Gerard P. Craughwell, among others, sought information on the timing of its introduction. I am informed that the Bill is due to complete its passage through the Dáil next week, but I am not certain if we will have it in the Seanad before the end of this term. I am making inquiries, but that is all I can say for now. The TUI is engaged with the Minister for Education and Skills and officials from the Department met delegates yesterday. There is ongoing engagement on amendments the TUI has sought to the Bill, particularly to address concerns it has raised with all of us about the terms and conditions of its members in the event of a merger. I have engaged with it on this matter, as have other colleagues.

Senator David Norris also referred to No. 1 on the Order Paper, the motion regarding the Twelfth Report of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Senator is entitled to propose an amendment in that respect, but the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges was concerned with House business and was not a matter for the Leader's office. We had a full meeting yesterday and, unfortunately, a number of members were absent. We received legal advice, examined the amendments proposed to Standing Orders 90 and 105 and considered the adoption of new Standing Orders 108A to 108E, inclusive. That is the subject matter of No. 1 on the Order Paper. I am very happy to inform the House that we were told the amendments proposed changes which were technical in nature but important because they would provide the protection of privilege for official Seanad documents and the personal papers of Senators. They give Standing Order status to a rule already present in Article 15.10 of the Constitution which states, "Each House shall make its own rules and standing orders ... to protect its official documents and the private papers of its members". Despite this provision in the Constitution, neither the Dáil nor the Seanad had Standing Orders dealing with the issue of privilege for private papers or official documents. In the case of Howlin v. Morris the High Court criticised both Houses for their failure in this regard. On foot of the requirements of the High Court ruling, as well as the relevant provision in the Constitution, the new Standing Orders are being introduced in both the Dáil and the Seanad to bolster, or confirm, the existing practice to provide privilege for these documents. There is nothing new in them and they are available for all Members to see.