I support my colleagues who raised the issue of public procurement. It affects booksellers today and others on other days. As a matter of urgency, we should invite to the House the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for public procurement, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to have a debate on the issue.

Up and down the country, SMEs are losing contracts for a service that they may have been providing for 20 or 30 years for a particular State body in a particular location. The frameworks are being designed where they are looking at it in gross terms, all the contracts combined, which could in some cases be 100 or more contractors, suppliers or small family businesses. If there appears to be a small saving to the State, they lose the contracts to, in a lot of cases, large multinationals. A lot of them provide employment here, but some may not. There is a loss of jobs throughout Ireland, aside from the social dimension.

Senator Fintan Warfield spoke about local libraries. A local bookseller would provide books relevant to that local area. If it is, for instance, in Limerick City and County Council, someone may be providing books that are relevant to local historians in Limerick. That would be unique to Limerick Library. That whole intellectual knowledge would be lost. This is about the design of the frameworks, about finding a methodology where local contractors can retain the contracts. They have to go up for tender in the normal way, but at least they should be able to tender. At the moment they are not. I ask the Leader and the Cathaoirleach to, as a matter of urgency, arrange for the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to come before the House in order that we can debate the matter at length.

I thank the 21 Senators who have raised matters on the Order of Business. Before I reply to them, on the Order of Business yesterday Senator Paddy Burke referred to the European Council's decision on the EU-Canada free trade agreement. For the information of the House, the agreement can or may be applied on a provisional basis if the Council agrees and the European Parliament gives its assent. Member states would then have to ratify it. That means that it would be brought to the Oireachtas for ratification following the conclusion of procedures by the Council and the European Parliament. Members will be aware of this from what happened yesterday.

I thank Senator Catherine Ardagh for raising the very important issue of speech and language therapy. She is correct that early diagnosis and intervention are critical. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to review the provision of services for children with additional needs. A cross-sectoral team of officials from the Departments of Health, Children and Youth Affairs and Education and Skills is to meet the HSE on Friday to move matters forward. One of the key items on the agenda for the meeting is the provision of speech and language therapy. I will seek further information for the Senator. It is a topic to which we will come back because it is one we need to highlight in this House. I understand the issues raised by the Senator. There has been investment in the service, as well as the recruitment of staff. There is, however, a deficit and further work needs to be done. I am happy to move on the issue for the Senator, on which I am at one with her.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell referred to the Attorney General. That is not a matter for the House and I do not want to dwell on it as she is the law officer to the Government. Her advice is given in a considered manner, rather than as part of a cavalier approach.

Labhair an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh mar gheall ar chúrsaí bruscair. Bhí mé ag caint leis an Aire agus is dóigh liom go dtiocfaidh sé ar ais chugam Dé Máirt nó Dé Céadaoin seo chugainn. Is dóigh liom freisin go mbeidh sé ag caint leis an Seanadóir.

Senators Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Robbie Gallagher, Michelle Mulherin and Paul Coghlan referred to the incident in County Monaghan. I do not have all of the information to hand, but I understand members of the Defence Forces were asked to carry out this exercise, if I can use that term - the destruction or killing of five animals - on a farm in County Monaghan out of concern for public health and safety. The operation was carried out at the request of the official assignee responsible for the herd, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Defence Forces in keeping with official protocol. The carcases were removed and not included in the food chain. I will seek more information for Members, if that is what they want, but that is the information available to me.

I will be happy to arrange a debate on school transport at the earliest convenience.

I again thank Senator Frances Black and acknowledge the work she has done in highlighting the misuse of alcohol and the effect it has on children. The all-party committee on health in the last Oireachtas engaged in the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill which will be brought before the House again in the autumn when I am sure we can address the issue further.

Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin referred to school admission policies. The relevant Bill will be brought before the House when there will be an opportunity for him to discuss the issue with the Minister for Education and Skills. To facilitate the passage of the Bill, perhaps we might arrange a briefing on it for Members and the Cathaoirleach.

Senators John O'Mahony and Denis Landy raised the important issue of passports. I welcome the allocation of new staff. The issuing of a reminder notice is a matter we should pursue with the Department.

Senator Robbie Gallagher raised the very important issue of repatriation. I join him in sympathising with Colin and Eithne Bell and paying tribute to them for the work they are doing. I know that there is discussion taking place on the issue of the repatriation of bodies. Again, perhaps it is one on which we might work together as it affects many families and communities. Dealing with the death of a loved one is a source of huge stress, without the bureaucratic nightmare of trying to get a body home, which can be heartbreaking. We can certainly take up the matter with the relevant Minister and Department.

Senator Ray Butler referred to the North-South interconnector. I will not get into a debate on the Wombles, but we can have the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in the House to discuss the interconnector issue. I hope, in keeping with new politics, that Members opposite will be able to work with the Senator to ensure we will have an outcome that will be in keeping with the mood of people living in that part of the country. The oral hearing is ongoing. I attended it on one day as part of the Seanad election campaign when I witnessed at first hand the tension and anxiety of residents.

Senator Diarmuid Wilson referred to the death of Séamus Mac Géidigh who was a broadcaster of high repute. He was a man of integrity in the promotion of the Irish language and Irish culture. He had listeners to his local radio station enthralled with his commentary. We extend our sympathy to his wife, Dolores, and family on his untimely death.

I thank Senator Tim Lombard for referring to the scourge that is Japanese knotweed. He will be aware that in his area, at Minane Bridge, there is a very impressive company, Japanese Knotweed Ireland Limited, which is dealing with the problem. It has been in contact with many of us about the issue. We need a national strategy to deal with it. I will be happy to ask the relevant Minister to come to the House to discuss it.

Senator Máire Devine referred to the dispute with psychiatric nurses. The Government recognises their importance and the serious issues that have been raised. It is important to say there is a mechanism that the State uses to resolve industrial disputes and it should be used at all times. In saying this, there is also the issue of maintaining services with staffing levels that are safe. Recruitment is taking place in a variety of places to fill vacant positions in the mental health service, of which the former Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch, was a strong advocate. I am sure the current Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, will also be a strong advocate of the service. As the Senator is aware, 1,500 new posts have been approved since 2012, of which 1,150 have been filled. It is important that the new posts be filled. The issue needs to be addressed and I hope the mechanisms in place can be used in doing so.

Senator Frank Feighan referred to UK-EU relations in the context of the fuel allowance. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, will be in the House next Tuesday to discuss social protection issues. He might perhaps address the issue on that occasion.

Senators Lorraine Clifford-Lee and Catherine Noone mentioned the forthcoming auction in Christie's of the Beit collection in Russborough House. I will be in communication with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on this very important issue after the Order of Business. It is important that every avenue be used to avoid paintings being sold and leaving the jurisdiction or even being placed in private hands. I hope we can address the issue.

Senators Denis Landy and Colm Burke referred to the new tenant purchase scheme. I will be happy to ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to come to the House to discuss it. It is important that there be a resolution of the matter.

Senators Colm Burke, Kieran O'Donnell and Fintan Warfield raised the issue of the purchase of books, procurement and the tendering process.

I very much share the views expressed by them. It is not just about books; it is also about the importance of the public procurement process and the need for Ireland as a small island nation to recognise the importance of small, family-run businesses which are providing services and products for a multiplicity of State agencies. They should be allowed to continue to tender in a real way, not just cosmetically. The framework process is one that needs to be changed and I am very happy that the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, should be asked to come to the House to discuss it. I hope he will be here on foot of the summer economic statements to be made next week. It is important that we debate this issue. As such, I will try to facilitate one before the summer recess. To assist Members, it would be useful if a Commencement matter could be tabled on it also. It would find universal, cross-party support. If the rules of the House allow, there should be a Commencement matter tabled by a number of Senators to get the issue on the agenda.

Senator Maria Byrne referred to the M7 and the use of eFlow tags. This is an issue the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, must address. In a previous existence he was instrumental in having a switch made to have the EazyPass system used on the toll bridge on the M50. I hope we can address the matter. I am not sure if the Senator is referring to the toll plaza near Portlaoise, but as someone who uses the M7, I note that use of a tag helps to facilitate speedier commuting times.

Senator Catherine Noone raised the issue of communications. We have asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to come to the House to discuss the issues of broadband provision and phone coverage.

I thank the parties represented in the House for their co-operation in advance of taking the motion on the appointment of members to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.