Please do.

In response to Senator Victor Boyhan, Committee and Remaining Stages of the Adoption (Amendment) Bill will be taken next Tuesday. The closing date for the receipt of amendments is Friday.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill referred to Brexit in the context of reunification of the country. Those of us who are republican and wish to see a united Ireland recognise that we are on a huge journey. I must make the point to the Senator that the language we use and the way we seek to achieve our aims are important. Sometimes I wonder about the means some people choose. It is important, in the context of the question raised by the Senator, that we first overcome the issues raised by Brexit and embrace whatever happens in that process, in addition to the election in the North. We can then answer the question the Senator discussed because it is important to allow for the Good Friday Agreement to continue to be implemented. I will also happy to have the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the House to discuss the situation in Palestine.

Senator Denis Landy raised the issue of public banking. The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, will be in the House on 9 February when she will be able to discuss that matter.

I will be happy to have the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, attend the House to discuss the issue of regional and local roads raised by Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. We all welcome the increased funding in that regard. The point made by the Senator about local improvement schemes was worthwhile. I will be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss it.

Senator Maria Byrne spoke about the action plan for apprenticeships and training. I will be happy to have the relevant Minister come to the House to discuss the issue. As a former director of adult education, I note the importance of further education and skills training which, unfortunately, fell from view during the recession. I hope we will be able to have that important discussion. We commend the initiative of the Government today to provide for 50,000 apprenticeship and training places.

Senators Gerard P. Craughwell and Frank Feighan referred to the siege at Jadotville. I pay tribute to the late Walter Hegarty and extend my sympathy to his family on his death. This issue has formed part of a discussion here before. As Leader of the House, I am happy to work with all sides to bring forward a motion that will be acceptable to us all. It is fair to say the motion which has been circulated and to which Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is a party does not, as drafted, reflect some of the things the Government has done. If we can agree on a formula of words, we can bring forward an agreed motion. It is important to contextualise the issue. We are talking about men who served their country and to whom a wrong was done and it is about rectifying it. The Government has tried to do so over time. As such, I hope we can agree on a motion that we can all sign.

Senator Catherine Noone raised the important issue of obesity levels. The Government's umbrella project Healthy Ireland is a means of tackling it. I will be happy to have the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senators Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Terry Leyden referred to inland fisheries and Lough Foyle. Only yesterday the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, said discussions were under way but that there had been no resolution of the matter. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, is on record as saying Lough Foyle is part of our territorial waters and that the position has not changed since our last discussion. I will, however, be happy to have the Minister of State come to the House to discuss the issues raised by Senator Terry Leyden. At the launch of the report yesterday the CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, Dr. Ciaran Byrne, spoke about the importance of angling in the context of tourism. It is a very important tourist attraction and I will be happy to have the Minister of State come to the House to discuss it. Equally, work is being done on a new sea fisheries and maritime jurisdiction Bill, although I am not sure how we can marry the two issues, but let us hope we can.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan referred to the courts in the context of repossessions. I will be happy to have the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, come to the House to discuss the matter. It is important to recognise the independence of the courts in making their decisions. The Minister and the Government generally are very conscious of the fact that they must work to ensure people will stay in the family home.

Senator Colm Burke mentioned planning for the future. I join him in welcoming and congratulating those involved in the €20 million development in Cork city. The huge development which extends from Camden Place to MacCurtain Street is one the Cathaoirleach knows quite well. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, is working on a document to plan for the future of cities. In tandem, I hope the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, will do the same to plan for the provision of health services. Senator Colm Burke referred to the need for new hospital beds. That is an issue that must be seen to be delivered on in the city of Cork through the provision of a new hospital.

Senator Michael McDowell referred to the Judiciary. I join him, in particular, and Senator Rose Conway-Walsh in their comments on the barbaric decision of the President of the United States of America to reintroduce torture.

As Leader of the House, I hope the Taoiseach who will be travelling to the White House on St. Patrick's Day and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, who will meet Secretary of State Tillerson, if approved, will on behalf of us all send the strong message that we oppose and abhor the reintroduction of torture. It is outdated, does not work or yield dividends and is contrary to human rights. I hope this House and the nation will send a strong message that we do not in any way condone but condemn the decision of the United States of America and the new President.

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh spoke about the North. The State was not complicit in or silent on the torture of those who were interned. I remind the Senator that the Government brought a case to Strasbourg which it won. She might reflect on that point.

That was a long time afterwards.

It is important to note that the State was not complicit in that regard.

Senators Frank Feighan, Rose Conway-Walsh and Ned O'Sullivan spoke about the desecration and vandalism of the grave of Éamon de Valera. As Leader of the House, I join in the condemnation of those who carried out this act. Éamon de Valera was a statesman; he was Taoiseach and President of this country. He played a pivotal role in its history and development. Regardless of one's political viewpoint, his grave is his resting place. It is a place where people go to pray and worship and his family to remember him. Those of us who visit the graves of loved ones join in the calls for them to be left as sacred places.

I join Senator Máire Devine in congratulating An Garda Síochána on its success in recent days and weeks against gang members in Dublin city. It can only work with information that is in addendum to that gained in its own investigative work. As public representatives, I hope we will all ask people and impress on them the need to co-operate with An Garda Síochána and provide information. Those involved in criminal gangs in the capital city are from and living in the communities in which they are known. It is important that the Garda be given information, whether in community policing fora or privately and confidentially. It is important that we work with it to out the people concerned and bring them to justice.

If Senator Ned O'Sullivan has a specific issue with the rent allowance scheme, I will be happy to speak to him later about it. I will also be happy to have the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, come to the House to discuss the scheme.

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh referred to Senator Keith Swanick's Bill. I think what he is trying to achieve is a celebration and a commemoration marking the centenary of the inaugural meeting of the First Dáil. We should all aspire to achieving that objective. It is, however, a little populist and political to make an accusation in the context of votes for the diaspora. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, gave a commitment during the discussion on the Bill that he would come back to the House with another to recognise the diaspora and those living in the North. It was a political shot because what Senator Keith Swanick is trying to do-----

I know what he is trying to do.

-----is to commemorate the centenary of the inaugural meeting of the First Dáil. If we learn nothing else from history, we should learn how key events are commemorated in other states. My point on the Order of Business yesterday was that as we were not all yet independent, it should not be known as "Independence Day" but that we should commemorate the centenary of the inaugural meeting of the First Dáil. To be fair to Senator Diarmuid Wilson, he said it was not about it being a public holiday but a date that would be recognised on the calendar.

I look forward to receiving the Leader's support.

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, will attend the House on 8 February, while the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, will attend on 9 February to discuss the rural action plan and other issues.