I thank the 20 Members of the House for their contributions on the Order of Business.

The proposed sale by Permanent TSB-----

I believe the Leader is suggesting that Senator Norris resume his seat.

I have not suggested anything but I am replying on the Order of Business.

I was consulting a colleague on a matter relevant to the Order of Business.

The Senator should take a seat. It is not good to be wandering around the Chamber.

Nine Members have raised the matter of Permanent TSB, namely, Senators Ardagh, Conway-Walsh, McDowell, Butler, Davitt, Ó Domhnaill, Murnane O'Connor, Marie-Louise O'Donnell and Norris. There is absolutely legitimate concern over the proposed sale of the loan book. We had a debate on this on the Order of Business last Thursday. It was initiated by Senator McDowell. All of us share a common concern. All of us want to see the people expected to be affected treated fairly and properly. Nothing has happened yet. Permanent TSB has not consulted the Minister for Finance. It is duty-bound to do so.

He should tell the institution not to proceed.

The Senator should allow the Leader to continue.

All of us here want to protect mortgage holders. That is the bottom line. It is a question of how we achieve that. If Members had listened to the contributions on the Order of Business in the Dáil, they would have heard the Taoiseach outline the Government's position. Deputies Michael McGrath and Micheál Martin have put forward their proposal. The Sinn Féin Party put forward its proposal and suggestions. It is important there is cross-party support to protect those involved. We, as Members of the House and legislators, have a duty to be informed of the facts regarding what is possible, or otherwise, under the law. There is a code of practice that gets transferred on, and protections are in place.

Not at all.

They are not. That is rubbish. Tell that to the people who are being evicted.

I do it the whole time. I meet people the whole time.

The Senator cannot say that to people who are being evicted. They are not being protected.

Senator Norris should allow the Leader to continue.

I meet people the whole time. If the Senator listens to the tenet of my reply, he will realise I am being measured in my response because I share the anger, fury and frustration expressed by Members here. Let us proceed in a way that is constructive, however, so we will have a resolution for the people. Members of both Houses have outlined their concern to the Government, as we have done on this side of the House. The Government stands with the people affected. It stands on the side of the people.

It does like blazes.

It absolutely does.

Taxpayers' money.

Allow the Leader to respond.

We support those who pay their mortgages and, as Senator McDowell mentioned in his remarks, those who try to pay but perhaps cannot, for whatever reason. It is important that there is perspective and clarity on this. I am all for a resolution that stands on the side of the person, the family and the mortgage holder.

The Taoiseach gave the Government's position on the Order of Business in the Dáil. An important point we must make here is that none of us wants to see vulture funds coming in here and denigrating and preying on people.

Deputy Noonan did.

None of us does. The Senator might do me the courtesy of listening because I am not against what he wants to do. I am not going to divide the House on a motion on which we all agree. The Minister for Finance is away today and is in the Dáil tomorrow. There is a meeting between Deputy Michael McGrath, the Fianna Fáil spokesman on finance, and the Minister tomorrow. It would be premature to have a debate on the matter today. I would be happy to have the debate next week or on Thursday, if we can.

Thursday.

The Minister is not here today.

The Leader is not listening to me. He accuses us of not listening to him. I called for a debate on Thursday.

The Leader should be allowed to continue. He is trying to explain his position.

I have not got the Minister's schedule for Thursday. I can tell the House what he is doing tomorrow and today. I am not against having a debate but I ask that the motion be deferred, pending a response from the Minister and his office.

That is agreed.

I am not against having the debate but I believe our language is important and that a resolution must be found. We are all against the vulture fund being the winner but let us be sensible in our approach.

There are talks tomorrow. I believe it is premature to have the debate today. I will endeavour to facilitate to have it, if I can, on Thursday. If I cannot, I will inform the House tomorrow. It may not be possible to have it this week, but I will endeavour to have it on Thursday.

Senator Ardagh also raised the issue of supervised injecting centres. I am not familiar with the exact location to which she referred. It is the first of its type and will alleviate a problem for those most vulnerable in our society. Senator Ó Ríordáin, when Minister of State, and the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, were involved in drawing up the legislation and its passage.

The tendering process was examined by an evaluation group comprising the HSE, HSE social inclusion, academic experts, the Garda, Dublin City Council and an external public health expert. Merchants Quay will also be appointing a community liaison worker to conduct an external evaluation of this first pilot project. Its aim is to help the most vulnerable and bring them off the streets to inject in a supervised area. I understand the frustrations of the residents about which Senator Ardagh spoke and that there may be a school near the location. There needs to be consultation about this. Communication is critical in the matter. I am happy for the Minister to come to the House. It is important, however, that it is not just about the leafy suburbs versus elsewhere. We had a similar debate about the location of a wet centre in Cork city. It worked out well. I understand the frustrations articulated by the residents involved. It is about communication with those involved, and being good neighbours is critical.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of tonight's "RTÉ Investigates" programme on St. James's Hospital. It was distressing to hear Aoife Hegarty's report on "Morning Ireland" about the misdiagnosis cases in the hospital and the people affected. It is important to give patients confidence and to ensure our health service is safe. St. James's Hospital and the HSE will outline in tonight's programme what they have done and will do to ensure an appropriate follow-up. I have not got all the information regarding the matter. It is important, following tonight's programme, that a further statement is issued by the HSE with regard to patient safety, how the diagnosis was missed and how we can reassure patients in the future.

The issue of cancer care is an important, delicate and sensitive matter, as many of us know from our own family situations. It also affects friends, neighbours and people in our communities. We cannot afford to make mistakes in this area. I will certainly have the Minister come to the House for a debate on this issue, following the "RTÉ Investigates" programme. It is important to highlight we have a good national cancer strategy and outcomes from cancer treatment are good. BreastCheck has worked superbly throughout the country. The concerns raised by Senator Ardagh, however, are important and I will come back to her again on a different date, following the "RTÉ Investigates" programme.

Senators Freeman, Devine and Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of the strike by psychiatric nurses in Waterford and Kilkenny. Coming from a family of nurses, I recognise the importance of our psychiatric nurses in our health care system. This evening is a sad occasion in Cork for the family of Oliver Bradley, a psychiatric nurse of long standing, who is lying in repose. I pay tribute to him for his work. This dispute has been well-documented. The issue is around staffing, development of bed management protocol and measures regarding staff dealing with pressures of services. I agree with Senator Freeman that no patient should be in an overcrowded ward, especially in the case of those suffering from mental health issues.

There is an important point to make here. The management, the HSE, in charge of the issue in Kilkenny and Waterford should have the opportunity to engage and to negotiate but should also be able to be in charge of the management and operations within the unit. I am not familiar with all the issues. The Mental Health Commission regulations operate in our hospitals and are the parameters which we should look for and work within. I am sure the Minister and HSE will be able to do that. It is important there is a resolution to the dispute. As a member of a trade union, I recognise the importance of the union and the right to strike. I commend our psychiatric nurses and workers for their work. It is about protecting the most vulnerable and providing a service of care. I appeal to all sides to come to the table and work this out.

Senators Grace O'Sullivan, Nash, Conway-Walsh, Butler, Reilly, Dolan and Norris raised the issue of Hinkley Point. The potential future development of nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom is a source of worry. We should stand united in our opposition to it, notwithstanding that we do not have any direct involvement in it as a State. As Senator Grace O'Sullivan said, at double the distance of that from Dublin to Cork, 240 km, it is quite close. I commend the role of the NGOs and those who advocate in the context of the potential harm and misuse of nuclear energy and the potential damage it can cause. We have seen the outcomes of that across the world. The important point here is that there is a call for submissions which ends on 17 April and there is an obligation on those who have a view on it to make a submission. The remarks of Professor John Sweeney from Maynooth University are worth looking at and noting. He says that the UK has a blind spot to Ireland regarding nuclear energy. I hope that one of the Ministers, Deputy Coveney or Deputy Naughten, will take that up on behalf of the Government. It is important to highlight the potential dangers and it is our obligation, as a State and a Government, under our international obligations to do so. We are a member of a number of international organisations where we have an opportunity to raise concerns about the activities of, and potential damage caused here by a such a plant. I support Senator Grace O'Sullivan in that call. We have not changed our position as a country but I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to debate it.

Senators Nash and Davitt raised the national development plan. We will debate that in the House next week. I am sure all Members will join in the welcome for the plan and the spend of €116 billion across our country, north, south, east and west. It is a good day for all our people and our country. Nobody in this House will object to the plan or will be negative towards the Government in regard to it. Unlike other plans, Project Ireland 2040 is about our people and delivering for them. I know Senator Devine would agree with me on that.

Absolutely. Senator Buttimer will not hear me saying negative things.

I would welcome the Senator's support.

Do not plan on plain sailing.

Perish the thought, a Chathaoirligh. We will debate that next week. Despite the comments of some Members of the House about spin and so on, last Friday was a good day for Ireland when all the projects were announced.

Spin.

It shows the vision of Fine Gael and the Independents in government for our people.

Senator Buttimer needs to go to Specsavers if he thinks that is the case.

I am sure the people of Cavan, who Senator Wilson represents, will not refuse any of the projects.

They would need more than Specsavers because it was not mentioned in the plan.

I know Senator Wilson will welcome it with open arms because he is a very fair-minded person. There is €1 billion for rural development under the Minister, Deputy Ring's Department. We will have that debate next week.

On the issue raised by Senator Reilly, I would be happy to have the Minister, Deputy Ross, come to the House to address the matter of Dublin Airport and the appointment of a regulator.

Senator Gallagher raised the issue of insurance. The Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, has responsibility for it. The report from the second phase of the cost of insurance working group under the chairmanship of the Minister of State was published in January. It contains 15 recommendations and 29 associated actions.

I am happy to continue the debate we had in the House on that. I will not go into the entire reply other than to say that insurance costs in some cases are coming down. The point made by Senator Gallagher is a very important one.

Senator Devine and Senator Burke raised the issue of the library service research on home care for older people. I would be happy to have a debate on it. It is a very important issue. As Senator Burke said, we are living longer. There are more people over the age of 65 and there will be more again by 2020. I am happy to have that debate in the House.

Senator Dolan raised the issue of the ratification of the UN convention. The debate in the Dáil is happening in the next number of weeks and I am happy to have a debate in the House as well. I think the debate is coming up in the Dáil.

It is scheduled for the middle of February.

I am not in charge of the Business Committee of the Dáil but we will have a debate in this House.

Senator Buttimer has great suasion.

I assure the House of that. It is a very important issue. Senator Richmond raised the issue of defibrillators and his support for Senator Swanick's Bill and for Deputy Noel Rock in the Lower House.

Senator Davitt raised the important matter of the pay and condition of councillors. We will have that debate in the House next week. I will defer to that.

Senator Burke raised the issue of new hospitals. He is right that it is 1978 since the last new hospital was built. The national development plan provides for the construction of six new hospitals which I am sure all Members will support, Senator Devine in particular. We will have that debate as part of the debate on the national development plan.

I missed Senator Norris's meeting today on "Oireachtas Report". I hope all of us can work together to ensure the coverage of the Oireachtas is not downgraded by RTÉ in its movement from terrestrial to online broadcasting. It is an issue on which we may not see a marrying of minds but it is important we continue to advocate for it.

Senator Noone raised the issue of microbeads and plastics. I support her on that. The Bill is moving towards conclusion in the Lower House.

Senator Boyhan raised the issue of the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the requirement for a debate on it. It is an important issue on which we should have a debate. I remind the House that under the budget last year, the allocation for the National Treatment Purchase Fund was €55 million, which was more than double the 2017 allocation, which was €20 million. In view of that significant increase, it is hoped we will see progress on waiting lists, but notwithstanding that, I am happy to have a debate on the issue of health.

Senator O'Donnell asked for a debate on banking in general rather than just on Permanent TSB. I will be happy to try to facilitate it.

If Senator Devine will allow me to endeavour to have the Minister come to the House this week, I will do so. If not, it will be next week. If she can defer her motion until I come back to her with an answer, I will be happy to allow it. I will not divide the House. If the Senator cannot defer it, I will endeavour to get a Minister but we should not just have any Minister to the House. We need the Minister for Finance himself.

Senator Devine has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That a debate with the Minister for Finance on the proposed sale of loans by Permanent TSB be taken before No. 1." Is the amendment being pressed?

No. I will wait for a response but I would prefer to have it by Thursday.

The Senator will withdraw her amendment subject to the Leader coming back to her.

I will not be here on Thursday but I will endeavour through my office and Senator Noone, who is Deputy Leader, to have the matter resolved. If not, it will be next week. I cannot control the Minister's diary. I would rather have the Minister for Finance here than another Minister. He is the Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform, and it is a serious matter.

The proposed amendment is withdrawn. I thank Senator Devine.