On a point of order, it would be appropriate to separate the two because people might have different thoughts about them.

That is fine.

During the summer recess Senator Tim Lombard and his wife, Catherine, had the pleasure of having two boys born to them, John and Denis. I congratulate the Senator and his wife on the heroic endeavour on his part. I imagine his sleepless nights have started. We commend him and his wife.

It would be remiss of me, as Leader, if I did not follow Senator Paul Daly's remarks by congratulating the Cathaoirleach and his good wife, Eileen, on their recent marriage. We wish them well. By all accounts, Kinsale survived and is coming back to life after the nuptials.

Senator Catherine Ardagh raised the important issue of DEIS schools, but before I discuss it, I formally welcome everyone on his or her return. Senators have been back at work long before today, but I wish them a productive and fruitful term until Christmas. I hope that in the era of new politics we can all come together to ensure the interests of the people rather than vested interests will be served in the House.

Senator Catherine Ardagh was right about there being a review under way of the selection method for DEIS schools. I am informed that it will be published by the end of the year and that a new action plan for disadvantaged schools will ensue. I join the Senator in expressing the hope there will be an increase in opportunities to participate in education, as well as more positive outcomes for children living in disadvantaged areas. A school in my area has become so successful that it has fallen out of the DEIS band. In that light, it is important to take note of the Senator's remarks in the review. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, will be in the House in the coming weeks to discuss education matters and I hope he will refer to this issue as part of the deliberations.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell raised the issue of the retirement age in general and specifically the case of Dr. Brendan Murphy of Cork Institute of Technology, CIT. It is my understanding Dr. Murphy received a five-year contract in 2014 and that CIT and the Department of Education and Skills are in dialogue about it which I am sure will lead to the best outcome for CIT. As the Senator knows, the technological university status Bill is being returned to the Seanad. It is important that we reflect on the best outcome for CIT. I am informed that there has been consultation on the specific issue involved.

Senators Máire Devine and Colm Burke raised the important question of nursing and referred to the importance to recruitment of changing different pay rates, as happened in the education sector. I agree with Senator Colm Burke on the cost of agency staff and the need to move away from their use in order that more nurses can be recruited and retained in the health sector. I agree that there is a need for the position to be clarified. The Minister for Health has been involved and I have spoken to him. Senator Colm Burke and I attended a meeting with him in Cork on Monday at which we heard that nurse retention rates in hospitals were increasing. That is welcome, but things cannot be taken for granted. I agree with the Senator that the two-tier pay system must be brought to an end. I will work with him and other Senators to achieve that objective.

Senators Colette Kelleher and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh referred to the report published on Traveller accommodation. The serious threat to life posed by fire and other safety risks to members of the Traveller community is one we cannot take lightly. The relevant Minister and Department must reflect on the report. The local authorities must also consider it in the context of their housing plans and Traveller accommodation committees and work with the Traveller community to ensure that, at a minimum, there is access and egress. There must also be fire blankets available and proper adherence to health and safety measures at halting sites in ensuring accommodation needs are met. I will invite the Minister to attend the House to discuss the issue.

In a wide-ranging contribution Senator Ivana Bacik mentioned education. I commend Trinity College Dublin for its initiative and assure the Senator that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, will attend the House in the next two weeks to discuss education issues.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will attend the House in the coming weeks to attend our debate on Brexit. Perhaps we might also discuss the situation in Syria and the important issues raised by the Senator, not least of which was the saving of lives. I commend our Naval Service personnel who have been proactive in saving lives in the Mediterranean Sea. Those of us who follow the matter closely know that there will be a homecoming this Friday. At a time when the matter has been tied with Brexit and the European Union's response, it is important that we keep up our efforts in debates.

Senator Ivana Bacik also referred to the repeal of the eighth amendment. As she knows, the Citizens' Assembly is due to commence its deliberations in October and the eight amendment will be the signature item at the beginning. Like her, I would have preferred the re-establishment of the Constitutional Convention model, but I understand the need of the Taoiseach to have a citizens' assembly.

I appeal to those taking part in the debate on the eighth amendment to understand language matters. That is to paraphrase what came from the debate in New York this week. In this Chamber and at a previous health committee there were discussions on the protection of life during pregnancy legislation. It is important that we hear from all sides of the debate. I ask those who deride the idea of a citizens' assembly to reflect on the importance of what is being convened. Citizens are informed and although they may not be parliamentarians or invested in politics, they will be versed in knowledge and be able to do their work. They will come back with a set of proposals. The Taoiseach is right that this issue is not black and white. We must take the debate beyond the prism of the usual suspects who are discussing the issue in the media. We must allow the "gnáth duine", the man and woman who will ultimately make the decision, to have their say and be participants in the debate. I hope the Citizens' Assembly will be given the support it needs from a resources perspective and, equally, by us, as parliamentarians, the body politic and the country's citizens. It will do the State a service. As such, we should allow it to do its work.

I agree with Senator Martin Conway that we must have a debate on the role of the Irish Coast Guard. I will be happy to facilitate his request.

Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of the funding of local government and referred to the importance of the Government being able to support it. She argued that, equally, local authorities should be able to bring forward mechanisms to support themselves. I know that the Local Authorities Members Association is meeting on Friday in Bantry and that many Members of the House will be present. The importance of this issue will be seen by the Minister in the coming weeks and months when he discusses the many elements under the local authorities' umbrella. I will be happy to have him come to the House to discuss the matter.

I join Senator John O'Mahony in congratulating our Olympians and Paralympians on the joy they gave us during the summer. Sport is a great unifier and the success of our Olympians and Paralympians - I will not name all of them - was uplifting and gave us a sense of importance and who we were. We saw this at the homecoming in the warmth of the reception given to the athletes. The bigger issue raised by the Senator was the importance of the governance of sport and sports bodies. Perhaps we might come back to that piece of work in ouor consultations as the issue of how sport is governed should be addressed. There is also the matter of how the governance of sport complies with different directives. Under Mr. John Treacy the Irish Sports Council is doing a lot work in that regard and I know that Mr. Kieran Mulvey has again moved into a different role. We will come back to the issue.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh joined Senator Collette Kelleher in raising the issue of Traveller accommodation. He also mentioned rural affairs, the Gaeltacht and the diaspora. The relevant Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, has committed to come to the Seanad. He has asked, however, that we wait until the strategy is completed and published before he speaks to us about the Irish language. The other Ministers of State, Deputies Joe McHugh and Michael Ring, have also committed to come before us to speak about rural affairs and the diaspora.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh also mentioned water services. The most important point is that both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fail have changed positions on multiple occasions on the issue.