I thank the 24 Senators for their contributions on the Order of Business. Senators Gallagher and Kieran O'Donnell raised the important issue of motor insurance and the need to reduce the costs of insurance.

Not only has the Minister of State, Deputy Murphy, who has responsibility in this regard, set up a commission to examine this matter, to be fair to him, but we have also seen for the first time in five years, according to the CSO figure, a 2.6% reduction in the cost of insurance on this time last year. I share with Senators O'Donnell and Gallagher the desire for more questioning of, and more accountability on the part of, the insurance industry regarding the cost of motor insurance. The Minister of State, Deputy Murphy, is committed to overseeing the implementation of the report and deserves credit and praise for his proactivity regarding the matter of motor insurance. I think we all recognise there is a need now for the motor insurance industry to be transparent and to be held accountable for the quotes it gives and costs it places on people.

The report of the working group has six main themes. The important themes for me are the protection of the consumer and reducing insurance costs, along with ensuring that insurance fraud is dealt with and the uninsured driver is held to account. The action plan has a timeline for delivery, the implementation of which Government is driving. The Minister of State, who, as I said, is being very proactive, has the report. There are 71 action points, 45 of which are due by the end of this year. I look forward to working with the Minister of State to ensure we commit to the action plan and see, as Senator O'Donnell said, such cartel activity eliminated. It is in the interests of all motorists to have a competitive, cheaper and transparent motor insurance quotation system and that we see more people on the road with insurance and reduce the number of people tempted to break the law by having no insurance.

Senator Gallagher also raised the issue of hospital waiting times, and Senator Coffey in his contribution referred to the issue of respite care. I am loath to begin a political row, but there are legacy issues we must recognise. The health budget is at its highest ever level. The Minister is very much aware of the inordinate and unacceptable waiting times, as all of us are in our own constituency offices from dealing with people - friends, family and members of our communities. However, it is important to note that the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, which published figures in this regard just last week, confirmed that over 52% of patients have now been waiting less than six months for either an inpatient or day-case procedure, and 93% have been waiting less than 18 months. However, this is too long for people in huge pain. There is a need to reduce waiting times for those who have been waiting longest, and that is a commitment of Government. It is for this reason the Government, in the most recent budget, allocated €20 million to the NTPF, with a commitment to increase this to €55 million in 2018. The Minister for Health is conscious of the matter and is working to achieve a waiting list initiative that will see more people being treated more quickly. I accept there is more to be done, but the Minister is committed, and the proof of that is in the budget recently announced.

Senator Boyhan raised the very important matter of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, and I know Senator Hopkins has raised this in the House previously. It is important we join Senator Boyhan in acknowledging that the reduction in the number of beds in this case is unacceptable and that the HSE has delayed too long in recruiting staff and reopening the beds referred to by the Senator. Since the Senator's contribution, the Minister of State with responsibility in this regard, Deputy McGrath, has asked me through my office to tell the Senator that he is happy to speak to him before the end of business today.

It is important to recognise the huge work being done in the national rehabilitation unit in Dún Laoghaire. The Government has committed to a rehabilitation programme which will see better outcomes for the patients and families who require these services. The HSE service plan for this year has identified a number of key priorities for the hospital, including finalising and progressing the framework of the national neuro-rehabilitation strategy. As a former health committee chair, I, with Senator Colm Burke, have worked very hard to see the strategy brought to fruition and to see investment in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Senator Boyhan is right to highlight the matter.

Progress has been made on the redevelopment of the campus in Dún Laoghaire. A new 120 bed hospital with integrated therapies and support services will be made available. Planning permission, as the Senator will be aware, has been granted. Like the Senator, I wish this could be done more quickly, but a procurement process has begun, with the appointment of a contractor to be made later this year. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is happy to liaise with the Senator. If he is not happy with that, I would be happy to have the Minister of State come to the House next week to have a debate on the matter. It is a hospital with which we all have a great affinity because many of us have friends and family members who have been in the hospital, and the care, service and attention they have been given are second to none. I think we all would like to see the situation improve and I would be happy to work with the Senator in that regard.

I made an offer to Senator Conway-Walsh last week on the issue of the motion on the Order Paper, but her party pushed the vote, which was its right and prerogative. I again compliment Senator Daly on his approach in this regard. The Minister, Deputy Creed, will come to the House next Wednesday. I am happy to facilitate statements on the matter rather than a motion, and I made this clear yesterday on the Order of Business. I am happy to do so again today, and that is my position.

That is an absolute Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael stunt.

The Senator is the one playing politics with the matter.

Sinn Féin started the ball rolling.

This is how they behave in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

We have read the Senator's press release-----

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will fool no hill farmers.

We have heard his party's remarks on various local radio stations. As I said yesterday, we should work to achieve solutions rather than play politics.

Rather than actually honour the promises made to hill farmers? They will not forget it.

I commend Senator Daly on his proactive approach and sincerity. Rather-----

A divided party that cannot back the motion will fool nobody.

I ask the Senator to allow the Leader to respond.

We look forward to the vote.

Methinks Senator Mac Lochlainn protests too much. The other issue Senator Conway-Walsh raised was the independent appeals office. As she said, perhaps she should raise it as a Commencement matter. I do not have information on the matter to hand so I cannot give her a definitive answer.

Senator Black referred to the untimely death of the journalist, Dara Quigley, and I join her in offering sympathy to her family. This is mental health awareness month, and I have asked the Minister to come to the House next week or the week after to have a debate on it. The Seanad Public Consultation Committee will be doing a piece of work beginning on mental health, and Government is very proactive on the issue of mental health. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss the matter Senator Black raised.

Senator Bacik raised the issue of policing, and the Minister yesterday outlined the issue and the appointment of personnel to the independent commission to review policing in Ireland. I would be happy to have a debate on the matter. Both Senators Bacik and Mulherin raised the issue of domestic violence, which is a very serious one. As Senator Mulherin rightly said, it is a compendium of physical, mental, sexual, financial and other violence which we need to address. Legislation in this regard is forthcoming, and I am happy to report back on the status of that legislation at a later date. We need to prioritise this as a Government.

Senator Coffey raised the issue of respite care, in particular in the Sacred Heart unit in Dungarvan, and the need to prioritise it. This is the fundamental reform of our health system to which Senator Burke referred last week on the Order of Business. We need to have a continuum of care for our citizens. This means we need to plan care and have, as Senator Burke rightly said again today, an investment programme in infrastructure which includes not just primary care, but also respite care, including emergency respite care. We have nearly 2,000 short-stay beds in terms of step-up facilities, intermediary care, rehab and respite care. However, we need to do more, and this is certainly something we need, as a country, to plan for. The HSE needs to be much more proactive on respite care. I do not wish to get into controversy with my next remark, but I think the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA has a role to play in respite care on the road we are travelling because, as a State, we see more people requiring care, including intermediate care, week stays for step-down care and care for those with long-term disabilities.

We need to see an increase in respite provision. We need to ensure, as part of the national carers strategy and the action plan for carers, that this is implemented.

Senator Coffey referenced the national skills strategy. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, have been before the House in that regard. However, the Senator is correct that we need to think outside the box in regard to our skills strategy. More programmes related to different aspects of our workforce are needed. I am happy to ask the Minister to come to the House for that debate.

Senator Leyden raised the issue of Ibrahim Halawa, whose case has been ongoing for far too long. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, has raised the matter, as has the Taoiseach. All of us are united in the hope that this case will be resolved for the Halawa family and Ibrahim.

Senator Ó Donnghaile raised the issue of the Act of 1737 and the use of Irish in the courts in the North. I am happy to ask the Minister to come to the House for a debate on that matter.

I join with Senator McFadden in welcoming home the 109th Infantry Battalion and thanking its personnel for their superb work on behalf of all of us. As I said yesterday, the Defence Forces provide a huge service on our behalf around the world. We welcome back those Defence Forces personnel. I am happy to set aside time next week for a debate on the Defence Forces.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about the homeless agencies in Galway. I find it staggering that there has been a withholding of funding for homeless services in Galway at a time when the Minister and the Department are allocating more funding than ever to resolution of the homelessness issue. On the issue of sleep-over workers, which the Senator has raised before, I would be stunned and disappointed if there was a deliberate obfuscation by the Department and the HSE in regard to the matters raised. Senator Ó Clochartaigh also raised the issue of domestic violence and Women's Aid.

Senator Butler raised the issue of the Book of Kells. The Senator, in terms of his very passionate remarks and the wonderful picture he painted, has been a strong advocate for the Ireland's Ancient East project. During the campaign for the Seanad elections many of us passed through many of the historic sites he referenced. I would not like to see anything happen to the Book of Kells that would destroy it. It is important not just as a tourist attraction but as an historical artefact.