We will have that debate at a later date.

The Senators are getting unusually close together.

The independence of the Chair should not be confined to comedy, but I take the Cathaoirleach's point. I am sure there are some on his former benches who would love to be in with Sinn Féin.

It is a republican party.

It is a republican party. The phrase, "republican party" has many different attributes, and I think we all share-----

And definitions.

And definitions. I thank the Senator.

Senator O'Mahony referred to student accommodation. The USI is holding a briefing today, and I apologise that I have not been able to make it. This issue was raised yesterday by Senator Gallagher as well. May I refer the House to a number of figures? In Dublin we now have 6,180 accommodation spaces specifically for students under construction; in Cork we have 603; in Galway we have 429. In Cork, Galway, Limerick and Kildare, 2,904 bed spaces are being constructed. The important point is that the Higher Education Authority, HEA, commissioned a report on student accommodation in 2017, and we must recognise and accept that there has been a huge rise in the number of students participating in further education and it will increase. The other point that Members should recognise is that students now prefer to reside in on-campus accommodation. This is part of the mistakes we made in the past whereby we did not build student accommodation and we are now playing catch-up. Many of us benefitted from going to college, and I would thoroughly recommend going to college to all students, if they can, and certainly living away from home.

No.

I think the Senator protests too much about that. It is an experience. I accept that there is a difficulty in sourcing accommodation but, to put it in context, we have 31,296 beds, 11,114 public and 20,182 private, so there is an imbalance in that respect that needs to fixed.

The Cathaoirleach has ruled on Senator Gavan's motion and I would be happy to have that debate. I believe Senator Gavan seeks that it be taken without debate next week. We will discuss the matter on Tuesday, perhaps, or maybe Wednesday. I welcome the Senator's advocacy on behalf of hotel workers, especially now that it is summer, which is the peak tourist season. It is incumbent on those in the hospitality and service industry and sector to treat their workers with respect and dignity. While the majority of people who work are treated fairly but there is a minority who are not, whether in respect of their rates of pay, the way in which they are called in to work in terms of rostering, the issue of tips or the hours they are allocated. The hospitality sector has certainly benefitted hugely from the Government decision on the VAT rate, and I hope the workers in the sector will be treated in a similar manner. I would be happy to support this debate when it comes back before the House.

Senator Butler raised the budget and the bereavement grant. We will have that debate with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, as part of the debate on the summer economic statement next week.

Senator Norris raised the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Senator Swanick raised the issue of waiting lists. I do not have information on the issue to hand but I think we will have the Minister for Health before the House in the coming weeks.

In response to Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, I would be happy to try to have the Minister, Deputy Naughten, come to the House. He was here-----

I know.

-----at the Senator's request last week, I think. I would be very happy to accede to her request and I will endeavour to have him in next week. The point she makes about homelessness, communication and the strategy as to who does what is a very valid and pertinent one. I believe we have many different organisations and entities, all wanting the same outcome, but there is perhaps no meeting of minds in the middle and no communication of an outcome. I think the Senator is right about that and I commend her on her work on positive ageing and the issue of death and dying. We had the Irish Hospice Foundation's pre-budget briefing today, and I commend the work it does, but I also commend in particular Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell on the work she has done. I hope her report is gaining traction as we proceed.

I will endeavour to provide for that debate before the recess.

Senator Colm Burke also raised the issue of social housing and the eligibility criteria in the regard. I am happy to ask the Minister, Deputy Murphy, to come to the House to discuss the matter.

I join with Senator Devine in commending all involved in the RTE documentary. It was harrowing to hear many of the stories and to view the programme per se and imagine that we lived in that world not too long ago. In recognising that we have made significant progress I commend all those involved in advocacy on behalf of women and human rights in our country. It was an important documentary. The second part of the programme, which will be aired tonight will, I am sure, be equally compelling. It is important to acknowledge that we have made progress but Senator Devine's point is well made.