The Order of Business is Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, motions re election of Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, to be taken together at the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 5, motion to restore the Statute Law Revision Bill 2016 to the Order Paper, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of No. 4; No. 6, motion to restore the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 to the Order Paper, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of No. 5; No. 7, motion to restore the Heritage Bill 2016 to the Order Paper, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of No. 6; Nos. 8 and 9, motions re the continuance in operation of certain provisions of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, to be taken together at the conclusion of No. 7 and conclude within 50 minutes, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed five minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed three minutes and the Minister's reply not to exceed five minutes; and No. 13, Private Members' business, non-Government motion No. 3 re poverty and homelessness, to be taken at 4 p.m., with the time allocated for the debate not to exceed two hours.

I wish to clarify that the leaders of the groups will have three minutes each on the Order of Business.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I convey our sympathy to the innocent victims of the Orlando shootings, the LGBT community in Orlando and the wider community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time and we condemn what was a devastating and hateful act. I also convey the sympathy of the Fianna Fáil group to the families of the police officer and his partner who were murdered in Paris.

I express my disappointment that the Seanad will be taking a longer than usual break this summer, given our late start to the term. However, despite the short window, I assure the House that the members of the Fianna Fáil group will use the time available to initiate and progress much legislation. As a new Member of this House, I welcome the enthusiasm shared by all sides last Wednesday for reform of Seanad Éireann. There have been over a dozen reports on the subject in recent times and I am pleased to say the Fianna Fáil group will be spearheading and supporting reforms during this Seanad.

As all Members are aware, this is National Carers Week. We all accept and recognise that carers play an integral role in our society in looking after loved ones and family members at a substantially reduced cost to the State. Without them, the health service would collapse. However, many face a serious financial burden because of substantial delays in reeiving their payments. Fianna Fáil learned last week that the average processing time for carer's benefit and carer's allowance was more than 18 weeks. The appeals process could take a further 23 weeks. This means that a carer could be waiting more than nine months before receiving a payment. This is unacceptable and symptomatic of the unfairness perpetrated by Fine Gael in government. I ask the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, to address the House and explain the delays and outline the actions he is taking to ensure his Department fully supports and engages with the carer community. These processing delays place additional stress on carers who are already under immense pressure as a result of their caring roles. Efforts should be made to ease the burden, not exacerbate it. As carers provide an invaluable service for the State, it is only fair that the Government show them the respect they deserve.

The Opposition groups in order of size are Fianna Fáil, the Independents, Sinn Féin, Civil Engagement and the Labour Party. I call next Senator David Norris from the Independents group.

I add my voice to the congratulations to your good self, a Chathaoirligh. You will be an excellent Cathaoirleach.

I refer to the situation in Orlando. It is quite clear that it was a hate crime. The people targeted were overwhelmingly gay latino men. It seems that Mr. Mateen was a troubled person. He had expressed violent views on gay people and had been very negative. Apparently, he had been upset by the spectacle of two men kissing, as recorded by his wife, yet he had been obsessed by Pulse. He had been there more than a dozen times and engaged in gay chat services. It appears as if he might have had some trouble with his own sexual identity, which suggests there is a great deal of work to do, even in countries like America. This was a terrible crime and highlights the situation regarding gun use. It is extraordinary that people can be put on a "no fly" list, yet they can still go and buy heavy machines guns.

We have a lot to do in this Seanad. I suppose the most striking issue before us is Seanad reform. I believe virtually everybody in the House has views on it. They strongly believe in reform of the Seanad. The Government claims to believe in the reform of the Seanad a;sp and it is by this yardstick that this Seanad will be judged. We will be judged on whether we get substantial and real Seanad reform, not just some tricking around and loosening at the edges and so on. It has to be comprehensive and full. I look forward very much to the debate on the issue.

There is also the issue of the eighth amendment. It is extraordinary that people in this country still believe that from their religious position they can intervene in a situation where a 13 year old girl has been raped and direct her on what decision she should take. The same applies in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. It is an obscenity that the mother of an unfortunate child with no brain, no nervous system and so on should be forced, regardless of whether it was against her will, to keep the child.

We must look also at the question of direct provision on which I have legislation that I hope to present to the House. It nearly passed the last time. The President has called on the Oireachtas to become involved in this issue. We nearly did it the last time and I believe we can do it again in this Seanad.

There is also the Living City initiative which was introduced partly as a result of pressure from this House to rescue the inner city core of buildings. This has been completely unacceptable. Only 33 applications were made nationally. This is because it was hedged around, festooned, as The Irish Times editorial stated this morning, with all kinds of inhibition preventing people from taking it up. In particular, speaking as somebody who is interested in the preservation of the Georgian core of Dublin, I was horrified at the restriction of 210 sq. m. As a civil servant said at the time, it was specifically to exclude what were described as Georgian mansions.

These buildings are a feature of the city; they are the identifying mark. They are the buildings that most need to be rescued. I understand the postion will be kept under review by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, but this House should have a significant role to play in extending and making acceptable the terms under which Living city initiative grants are made.

Despite some people's faint-hearted anticipation that we will have very little to discuss other than statements, we will have much to discuss. There is legislation from these benches. My colleague and friend, Senator Michael McDowell, will, for example, be presenting a Bill. I have some difficulties with it and will make them clear during the discussion on the legislation. Senator Gerard P. Craughwell also has a Bill to introduce. There are many legislative measures being brought forward by those on this side of the House and I look forward to the Government treating them with respect.

The group leaders have three minutes each for their contributions; all other Members have two minutes each. I call the leader of the Sinn Féin group, Senator Rose Conway-Walsh.

On behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend our sympathy to the community in Orlando, particularly the LGBT community, and the police officer and his partner in Paris who were shot dead. I commend the Yes Equality and LGBT groups throughout the country and in County Mayo for the vigils they are organising in solidarity and support for the community in Orlando.

I will refer briefly to the issue of Seanad reform. Our team in the Seanad is adamant that the recommendations that have been made must be implemented and that the necessary reform must be carried through. We have a motion which will be submitted tomorrow on the establishment of a sub-committee to examine properly how this could be done, but we will also be supportive of other Bills which reflect our commitment to the reform that is necessary of this House.

The Minister for Health should be invited to the Seanad to address the emergency where 26,000 operations and procedures have been cancelled in hospitals. This is due to beds being taken out of the system from the 1980s to the present. This allows medical teams who are paid huge amounts of money to stand by and do nothing because they do not have beds in which they can treat patients. Those who have taken the beds out of the system must be held accountable for the 26,000 people who have not been able to have their procedures performed.

In addition, will the Minister with responsibility for heritage be invited to the House to explain the bizarre situation where the Government is appealing the decision on the monuments on Moore Street and outline the rationale for it?

My remarks will be brief. On behalf of the Civil Engagement group, I echo the message of solidarity and concern following the tragic events that unfolded in Orlando. I attended the vigil that took place this week in the same location, next to Dublin City Hall, where last year Ireland celebrated the transformation in LGBT rights. It was a very sad occasion and sad to see such a solemn and concerned atmosphere among those attending. We extend our concern and solidarity to those in Orlando, but it is also imperative that we send a message on the importance of a considered response grounded in respect and peace and a concern for diversity and a recognition of diversity. That is very important, as well as to acknowledge the homophobic nature of the attack.

On the Order of Business, my colleagues will address a number of the motions which have been tabled. The Civil Engagement group is happy to support what we believe could be a transformative opportunity in terms of the introduction of a Bill to implement the Manning report. It will be introduced later and we look forward to supporting it and working with all Members of the House as it proceeds through the House.

Senator Lynn Ruane who spoke earlier during the Commencement debate will address other concerns and some of the motions tabled.

We note that statements on delivering sustainable full employment are included in the Order of Business. We should move speedily within this House in order that we do not simply look to make statements on issues such as full employment but also look to debate solid motions and legislation. I echo the points made by Senator David Norris. I believe there is a wealth of proposals and legislation that could emerge from all sides of the House and there is the strength to pass them through this House. I look forward to seeing this in play.

An issue that emerged today that is not included in the Order of Business is the publication by Women's Aid of figures that are shocking to us all. They concern the continued depth and presence of violence against women. We may look at this issue at a future date. Again, this House could play a role in driving forward the practical measures that will be needed to ensure real implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

I join other colleagues in expressing the sympathy of the Labour Party group in the Seanad to the families of all the victims caught up in the horrific attack in Orlando which was a homophobic hate crime, a crime of terror and a crime that highlighted not only homophobia and terrorism but also issues around gun control, particularly how somebody who had been under investigation by the FBI was able to purchase horrific assault rifles. I commend GLEN, BeLonGTo and Transgender Equality Network Ireland for organising the vigil on Monday evening and the Lord Mayor of Dublin for opening the book of condolences in the Mansion House. I understand it is open until 4 p.m. today. Again, I express my sympathy not only to those in Orlando but also the family of the police officer killed so horrifically in Paris.

I join Senator Alice-Mary Higgins in calling for a debate on domestic violence in the light of the figures published today by Women's Aid. We had some very good collaborative work in previous Seanadaí on domestic violence and mechanisms to address this huge problem.

I also look forward to working with colleagues from all parties and the Independent group on the pressing issue of Seanad reform. In particular, the Labour Party group in the Seanad will reintroduce the Competition (Amendment) Bill. We would like to see further progress on this Bill, a Private Members' Bill which was accepted on Second Stage by the Government in January. I hope we will see it proceed through the House as a Private Members' Bill.

I ask the Leader for a debate on the ruling last week of the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the application brought by Amanda Mellet. I commend her for her bravery and that of her family and those involved in Termination for Medical Reasons because the ruling of the committee has shone a light on the need to address the eighth amendment to the Constitution. The finding that Ireland was in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and had violated the human rights of Ms Mellet because of the prohibition in our law of termination, even in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, deserves a very prompt and urgent response from the Government. I am disappointed to hear the Taoiseach appear to dismiss or denigrate that ruling as not being binding. I am concerned for two reasons about his proposal to establish a citizens' assembly. First, it appears to be an attempt to delay taking any action on the need to abolish the eighth amendment. The Taoiseach did not need to put the issue of Seanad abolition to a citizens' assembly before he called the referendum on it and I do not believe we need a citizens' assembly before we have a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment. Second, some commentary on the citizens' assembly from Fine Gael politicians has betrayed an anti-politician tenor that is disturbing, that this idea is somehow going to be better than the Convention on the Constitution, a model which I think all of us in the previous Seanad agreed was a very worthwhile model that paved the way for the marriage equality referendum. The Constitutional Convention was made up of representatives of political parties and citizens chosen in accordance with the demographics of the country. This sort of model would be preferable to a citizens' assembly. If a citizens' assembly is to be held, it needs to be done expeditiously and we do not want to see further delay. We do not want to see any more cases like that of Savita Halappanavar or the tragic case in the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar. We need to move towards repeal of the eighth amendment without delay.