Senator Ó Ríordáin made reference to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, in his presentation. Neither of the Fine Gael leadership candidates is spending public money on their campaigns. Senator Ó Ríordáin's remarks are mischievous, misleading and should certainly be clarified because the Minister is not expending any public moneys on any campaign. Social welfare fraud is a different issue. All of us recognise that we need to address all issues in this area, whether they relate to white collar crime, social welfare fraud or whatever. We commend the Revenue Commissioners when they publish a list of tax defaulters and pursue them. Equally, those who abuse the State's social welfare programmes should not be allowed to get away with it. I do not know whether the Senator disagrees. I am not seeking his endorsement, but that is a fact of life.

I was not quite sure what Senator Devine was seeking, to be honest. I am not being disingenuous, mischievous or trying to provoke her politically but I did not know what she was looking for in her contribution. If she wishes to tell me afterwards I will endeavour to talk to her.

The Leader was not listening.

The Senator went on about 40 different tangents-----

The Leader should open his ears.

-----and I did my best to try to follow her.

The Leader was doing his very best.

I could not get her specific request. I am pleased that Senator Murnane O'Connor is interested in the Fine Gael leadership contest. The €17 million help-to-buy scheme is very positive.

It is a very good scheme.

What the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, said was that it would be looked at. The Senator's leader in the Seanad was critical of the scheme's lack of take up a couple of weeks ago in the House.

No, it has been taken up.

There is a need to promote it more. I certainly think that we should be incentivising and helping people to get on the property ladder, in this case first-time buyers.

To address Senator Mac Lochlainn's contribution, I have spoken to Senator McFadden about Jadotville and I have also met with the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, in that regard. The Senator might not think we are trying to progress the matter but we actually are. I share the Senator's view on this, as he knows quite well. I am trying, as Leader of the House, to arrive at a positive conclusion for everybody. If the Senator can give me a bit more patience, I will be happy to try to get him a meeting with the Minister of State on that issue. To be fair to Senators McFadden, Craughwell and Senator Mac Lochlainn himself, we need a commonality and unity of approach in order to see this matter resolved positively for the families and the men who served, in particular.

Is it possible to get a meeting with the Minister of State for the four of us next week?

I will endeavour to do that. To be fair, I know the Minister of State was away on Government business relating to the Defence Forces because I had asked for a meeting this week. He has just returned this morning. I met him this morning. I will endeavour to get that meeting.

A meeting for the four of us Senators along with himself.

I will try to deliver. I am being genuine in that.

Senator Mullen raised the very important issue of farm thefts and the need for vigilance and proactivity in rural Ireland. I certainly agree with him. We have seen a decline in burglary across the country. I have not got the figures to which the Senator referred, but it is worrying that we have seen an increase in theft at this time of the year. I was travelling to Cavan last night for a particular event and I was struck by the amount of activity in rural Ireland. The Senator made his point well. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House in that regard.

I thank the Leader.

I believe the right to strike was the predominant issue which Senator Gavan raised in his contribution. There is nobody who wishes to prevent members of a union from going on strike.

There is.

That is not being proposed by anybody.

Deputy Varadkar is proposing it, as is Deputy Coveney.

No, he did not say that actually. Neither of the candidates has said-----

They have.

-----he would withdraw the right to strike, to be fair. As somebody who was a member of a union, I recognise the importance of the right to strike. Equally, we need to have a debate about making resolutions of the Labour Court binding. I am only posing a question. Should some public workers not be allowed to go on strike, for example our gardaí, our Defence Forces and people who provide key essential services? I am only posing the question. That is a debate we could have and which I would be happy to have.

Good.

We would not have it in the context of the Fine Gael leadership contest.

Oh God, no.

I welcome the Senator's interest in that contest, but we would have the debate in the context of our society.

Senator Warfield raised the issue of the importance of the Arts Council of Ireland. I did not know that this matter of the productivity of artists was being put forward. The Senator's presentation of the Colm Tóibín piece was a very good example of members of the arts community going through fallow phases, if that is the right phrase to use. It certainly poses a good question in terms of productivity and what a positive and productive outcome is. That is something that we need to look at and I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House in that regard.

I will take Senator Ó Clochartaigh's amendment and I would be happy to take Senator Ruane's Bill next week, but I will not be accepting the other amendments.