The Leader has not read the document.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan raised the important issue of cycle safety. I join her in offering my sympathy to the families of the three cyclists who were killed - Donna Fox, Tim Ross and Daniel Roche. Any life lost on the roads is a tragedy, but it is particularly tragic when a young lad is killed while cycling to school. We have a national cycling policy. In the light of the report from the Committee on Budgetary Oversight which calls for climate change proofing, we must clearly address the issue of cycle safety. I will be happy to have the relevant Minister appear before the House to discuss it.

Senator Ivana Bacik who also raised the issue of cycle safety referred to a Private Members' Bill introduced by the Labour Party. According to the information available to me, the relevant amendments are being finalised in the Office of the Attorney General. They will then go before the Cabinet for approval, after which they will be tabled in the House for further debate on Report Stage. I understand Report Stage is due to be taken by the end of October, but I will revert to the Labour Party Senators on the matter.

Senator Ivana Bacik also referred to developments in Aleppo and Syria. I, too, encourage the Russians to engage. They have an obligation and a duty to do so. I note the decision taken by the Government of the United States to suspend talks with Russia. All of us who are concerned about peace and the protection of life want to see a resolution to the war in Syria. Having listened to the stories of some of the men and women of the Naval Service who returned from the Mediterranean last week, one cannot but view this matter as one of extreme urgency. I will, therefore, ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House.

Senator Ivana Bacik also called for a debate with the Minister for Education and Skills on higher education. The Minister will be in the House next week for a debate on education. Senator Neale Richmond referred to Erasmus students at third level. He can raise the issue with the Minister during the debate on education.

Senators Robbie Gallagher, Tim Lombard and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn called for a derogation to be introduced in respect of the deadline for slurry spreading which falls in ten days' time. As the Senators noted, it is too late to provide for a derogation on the day before the deadline. If I am not mistaken, a derogation was applied several years ago. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed. It is an important issue because we had a large amount of rain during the summer. As Senator Tim Lombard correctly noted, crops are still being harvested on unsuitable ground.

Senator Michelle Mulherin referred to the farm assist scheme. This is also a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who is willing to come to the House to discuss it.

It is just a matter of getting him to come to the House between EU, diary and other events, but he will come in the next couple of weeks.

Senator Máire Devine raised the important issue of the use of the malaria drug, Lariam. As she knows, any decision on the use of medications by and tetanus injections received by members of the Defence Forces is taken by the medical officers. Everything is done with the health and safety of the men and women who serve with the Defence Forces in mind. The drug mentioned has been prescribed and it is my information that all members of the Defence Forces are screened individually for their suitability and fitness. As yet, there is no plan to remove the drug from the list. I will take up the matter with the Minister for Defence. It is important that, rather than creating hysteria, we acknowledge that the the drug is taken for medical reasons and that the decision is not made by a member of the Government, an administrative officer or someone in the Civil Service but by the medical officers in the Defence Forces.

In his contribution on commercial rates Senator Colm Burke raised a very important point about giving more power to local councils and councillors. I will bring the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, into the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Kevin Humphreys discussed the priorities of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross. I will be happy for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter.

The Senator also referred to cycle ways. I have already discussed the issue.

Senators Aidan Davitt and Gerard P. Craughwell spoke about the conditions of service of members of local authorities. I compliment the Local Authorities Members Association on the very fine conference held in Bantry at the weekend which I am sure many of us attended. It was very positive and there was a great sense that reform and change were needed at local government level. The local authority members who attended the conference were concerned, not about pay and conditions but about how they could better serve their communities. That was the sense I got at it.

I do not know from where Senator Aidan Davitt is coming in his comments on the two Ministers involved in the class K pension issue which was also raised by Senator Colm Burke. Deputy Simon Coveney is the line Minister responsible for the role and functions of local councillors. Like Senator Gerard P. Craughwell, I very much hope the Minister will meet the cross-party group set up in this House. I thank the Senator for his remarks which were necessary. For the majority of Senators, local councillors are our constituents. I genuinely believe it is important that we work in unison with one voice not just on the terms and conditions of local councillors but also on how we can make local government better.

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile referred to the attack on Fr. Gary Donegan. It is an appalling travesty that a reverend gentleman who works so hard to bring about peace and reconciliation in the North should be subject to such violence, for whatever reason. I do not want to give it a title, but I believe the attack has been condemned by everyone in the House. We wish Fr. Donegan well and thank him and Fr. Aidan Troy for the work they have done. Those of us who are interested in bringing peace to the island and seeing it united know that it cannot be done by way of such provocation. It is only by working and bringing people together that we can achieve peace on the island. I thank Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile for raising the matter.

Senator Keith Swanick raised the very important issue of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. It is an issue we need to raise constantly, not just in Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. The Senator is correct when he speaks about people not realising the importance of having their boiler and gas fire checked or serviced. I will be happy to have the relevant Minister or Ministers because the matter falls between two Departments to come to the House to discuss it.

Senator David Norris mentioned the self-employed. He neglected, however, to commend Senator Ray Butler who had a Private Members' Bill before the House before the summer. I am pleased that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, is looking at the matter of PRSI contributions by the self-employed. I will come back to Senator David Norris on the issue.

Senator Paul Gavan spoke about Bank of Ireland and the account of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign. I cannot give an answer to the question of why Bank of Ireland has done what it has. I know that bank accounts in other parts of Europe have also been closed. It is a matter for the bank to give its reasons.

Based on what I have read in the newspapers and online, I understand there was some correspondence with the group early in the summer, but it is an issue the bank needs to resolve. There are two sides to the story and I do not have both.