I welcome the former Minister of State, Mr. Parlon, who is in the Gallery. In his role with the Construction Industry Federation he will tell Senator Murnane O'Connor that the Government is ambitious about building houses. We want to get the construction sector moving. What we have in Rebuilding Ireland is a comprehensive plan to address the imbalance the Senator spoke about and to redress the deficits.

The Government should build the houses. It is just rehashing the news.

We are addressing homelessness.

The Government should build houses.

We are accelerating the building of social housing. In tandem with the construction sector we are building more houses.

We are improving the public realm across the country. As Senator Colm Burke said, more people are back at work. One of the things associated with people being back at work is the need for housing. It must be recognised that the Fianna Fáil-led Governments decimated the construction industry. That is the bottom line. For the first time, we have a Minister with an accountable target for the number of houses to be provided. I ask Senators to come with me to Tramore Road in Cork where yesterday the Minister opened a new social housing scheme, the quality of which one would not see anywhere else.

What about Carlow, Kilkenny and other areas?

Please allow the Leader to continue, without interruption.

In tandem with that, there is an ambitious programme, Rebuilding Ireland, to address the issues raised by Senators. It is unacceptable for people to be homeless or families to be living in hotel rooms. I live in the real world, in a constituency where people come to me. This is a Government that has set about addressing the issues about which Senators have spoken.

Senators Colm Burke, Reilly and Nash raised the issues of unemployment and employment contracts. We should celebrate today. Unemployment is down to 6.8%. There are 65,100 more people back at work. For the 17th successive quarter there has been an increase in the number of people at work. In 2010 the unemployment rate was 15.1% - men and women who had lost hope and who had no chance of finding a job - but today jobs are being created. There is the highest number of people at work since 2008. We were told it could not be done, but we are doing it, with the help of the people. We are getting people back to work. The unemployment rate continues to fall. In 2016, 1,300 more people were back at work every week. Since 2012, 205,900 people are back at work. That is to be celebrated and an achievement many in the House thought would never happen. It is important, therefore, to put things in context.

What about the health service?

I am responding to the points made on the Order of Business. If Senator Davitt ever has the good fortune to be in this position someday, he can reply to the Order of Business. I want to put things in context. According to the Central Statistics Office which is independent of the Government, 70% of the new jobs created are outside Dublin. The region with the fastest growing number of new jobs during 2016 was the mid-west in which the employment rate was up by 7.4%; in the west it was up by 5.5% and in the south east by 4.6%. I think Senators will agree that is good news which we should all rejoice and celebrate.

Senators Boyhan and Conway-Walsh correctly raised the issue of GLAS payments. I will be happy to have the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, come to the House to discuss the issue. As the House knows, the scheme is paying a key role in enhancing Ireland's ability to promote sustainable agricultural production. Some 38,000 farmers were included in the first tranche of those who were paid. However, the Minister and I accept that there is an issue with the number of applications being processed. He will come to the House to address the matter. It is important to recognise that this is a very important scheme for rural Ireland. The issue of why payments have not yet been processed has to be addressed.

Senator Conway-Walsh referred to the Pat Finucane case. The announcement in the courts in the North today was disappointing. Geraldine and the family deserve our support and acknowledgement, but it is a matter beyond the jurisdiction of this Chamber.

Senator Conway-Walsh asked that the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Humphreys, come to the House to discuss a certain matter. I will be happy to have the issue addressed.

Senator Gallagher raised energy prices. I will be happy to have the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, come to the House to discuss the issue. Senator Craughwell referred to the banks. I share his view that €110,000 is a large amount. I will be happy to accept Senator Gavan's motion because it is important that the House collectively sends a signal on the rights of workers. Senator Nash also referred to this matter. We must protect workers' rights irrespective of who or where they are. As to the dispute at Tesco, it is important that both sides sit down and discuss the issues through the mechanisms available. Rather than having a motion from one party, it would be preferable to agree to an all-party motion on the issue and I will accept Senator Gavan's motion in that spirit.

Senator Leyden referred to wind farms in connection with Castlecoote. He is correct that people in rural areas need to be able to live sustainably. The Senator should submit a Commencement matter to have the issue discussed with the relevant Minister.

Senators Butler and Davitt raised the issue of rates. Senator Butler has been a champion of communities and businesses on the issue of rates. We must give small businesses every opportunity to develop and grow. I hope the Department and Revenue Commissioners can work with local authorities, chambers of commerce and the Small Firms Association to ensure the viability of small companies, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns.

I did not catch all of Senator Devine's contribution on the report card published by the Children's Rights Alliance today. Perhaps she will send me an e-mail on the issue.