I join colleagues in pointing out that despite the required maintenance work on the Seanad Chamber having been on the agenda for eight years, a great deal of uncertainty remains. I do not mind where we go, but what is happening is an absolute farce, with the possibility of huge disruption to the activities of the National Museum of Ireland. So far, nothing is happening. I appreciate that a lot of work is going on behind the scenes, but we must now call a halt to all of this uncertainty. It might be time to bring the Parliament to the people, as colleagues have suggested, by having sittings of the Seanad around the country. The current situation has gone on too long, with the proposals expected to cost, I understand, nearly €1.5 million. Officials have put a great deal of work into the relocation, but anybody looking in from the outside would surely conclude we are incapable of making a decision for ourselves. There are a lot of venues around the country, private and public, including hotels and so on, which might accommodate us. We cannot go on as we are.

Of course, this is not about accommodating Senators but about ensuring Parliament has a place to meet and legislate. If an agreement cannot be reached on relocation, despite the engagement by so many Departments, it may well be the case that we are looking at an interdepartmental turf war. Somebody will be inconvenienced and somebody will be seeking more money. It is us Senators, however, who will be held to account for the delay. The word must go out from this Chamber that we do not care where we are put, even if it is a tent on St. Stephen's Green, but a decision must be made in the next two or three months. People are having a laugh at the way we cannot come to an agreement. It is not Senators and the Ceann Comhairle who are at fault here; the problem has arisen because the Departments involved cannot come to an agreement. We should bring in the private sector to secure a venue for us sooner rather than later and likely for better value and at less inconvenience to all.

I support my Kerry colleague Senator Paul Coghlan in his comments on the St. Mary of the Angels facility in Beaufort. I do not need to go into any detail because the Senator has eloquently outlined the problem. In fairness to the HSE, it is taking a new look at the area of residential care. We have a situation in Beaufort where 77 people of various ages face the loss of the secure, safe and happy environment in which they have lived for many years and whose families are dreadfully worried at the prospect of their loved ones being moved on to some new location. This case must be reviewed in the broader context of residential care provision. I ask the Leader to refer the matter to the Minister for Health.

I am surprised and disappointed by the outburst today by the former director of the National Museum of Ireland about the proposed relocation of the Seanad to the museum's ceramics room which will happen, I understand, after the Easter recess. I understand the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, of which Senators Paudie Coffey and Gerard P. Craughwell and I are members, has been in negotiations for a long time with the museum authorities and the Office of Public Works, and matters are moving towards fruition.

I certainly understand the frustration of Members at the lack of information which is being disseminated on the move. With my two Seanad colleagues, I undertake to bring up the matter at the next meeting of the commission.

I join other speakers in referring to our removal to some other building near here. It does not matter to us where we are because we have a job to do and, presumably, the facilities will be provided for us. However, it strikes me that the media are not really interested in covering anything to do with this House unless it is in the realm of the ridiculous. The idea that staff are crying-----

What about the ice cream vans?

We have all said stuff that the media have run with. Whether it is the ceramics room or, as Senator Frank Feighan said, on St. Stephen's Green, it does not matter that much to us. As Senator Ned O'Sullivan said, and as I understood it, this was something that had been negotiated between officials for a long period. It was simply a fait accompli that we would turn up some place else on a certain date.

They might want to move us to Croke Park.

As I said, it is in the realm of the ridiculous. I would appreciate some clarification on the issue in order that we can put this nonsense to bed, for want of a better expression.