I thank all Members of the House for their contributions. I join Senators Dolan, Bacik, Byrne, Devine, Higgins, Feighan, Paddy Burke and Coghlan in speaking about the commemorations yesterday. Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim mo fíor buíochas agus mo chomghairdeas le gach duine a bhí páirteach sa chomóradh. Bhí sé an-spioradúil agus inspirational. Yesterday was a wonderful day, lá iontach, stairiúil de cheiliúradh agus lá iontach agus speisialta do gach Ball den Oireachtas. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir Ó Céidigh, tá suim mhór ag a lán daoine, ach go mórmhór ag gach Ball den Teach seo agus den Dáil i gcúrsaí Gaeilge agus beimid ag plé cúrsaí Gaeilge an tseachtain seo chugainn. Yesterday was a wonderful occasion to commemorate the first sitting of the First Dáil.

On my own behalf and that of the Government, I commend all members of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas and all who were páirteach san ócáid speisialta seo. It was a wonderful day. It shows the importance of Oireachtas TV and the need for us to promote and use same as a means of broadcasting the work being done in both Houses of the Oireachtas and committees. In addition, as Senators Warfield and Marie-Louise O'Donnell indirectly referred to in their contributions, it shows the importance of creativity and what happens within this compound of the Houses of the Oireachtas in terms of visits and being able to re-enact significant moments in our history. Yesterday was one such occasion and I offer my sincere congratulations and thanks to all involved. I will not name people but I welcome and congratulate all those involved in the wonderful event yesterday.

Perhaps the pin we all received as Members could be replicated and given to all staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas as a token of our appreciation for their contribution. I happened to be in discussion with a member of staff yesterday whom I will not name. That person has been here since 1982.

That illustrates that it is not just a job; it is a commitment. This is a place of work but it is also much more than that. Yesterday's event was fantastic. We were all privileged to be elected. Some of the contributions perhaps offered a dystopian view of the world but I reflect on the fact that we have passed transgender and marriage equality legislation and achieved some infrastructural development. The country is near full employment, notwithstanding the challenges we face. The men and women of the First Dáil would be proud of what this and previous Governments have achieved. I want to put that into perspective.

I join all Senators who condemned the car bombing in Derry last weekend. Violence has no place on our island, north, south, east or west. We had all hoped we had left the dark days of violence behind us. As Senator Ardagh stated, we must nurture and inculcate in all a desire to maintain the peace process through upholding the Good Friday Agreement and bringing all communities together. It behoves us to work to ensure we do not take the peace we now enjoy for granted.

Senator Higgins, rightly, mentioned the brutal killing of the mayor of Gdansk, Pawe Adamowicz, who was stabbed while speaking. We are democrats and democracy is something we cherish. We must work not only to ensure it is nurtured, as Senator Ardagh stated, but also to protect those who are elected as public representatives. We must also protect the right to speak and hold a different viewpoint. On behalf of the House, I offer Mr. Adamowicz's wife, Magdalena, and their two young children our deepest sympathy.

Senator Ardagh referred to the lack of green space in Dublin's inner city. I hope we can engage in a debate on that matter in due course. It is important that a city has green spaces and trees, places of refuge away from the concrete jungle, the traffic and the noise. I will be happy to arrange a debate on that matter.

Senators Devine, Murnane O'Connor, Ardagh and Gallagher referred to today's dispute involving ambulance staff. We all recognise the importance of ambulance personnel but the HSE is questioning the right to have a representation heard. The PNA represents 500 National Ambulance Service staff. The HSE recognises SIPTU which also represents ambulance personnel. I hope we can resolve this issue. It is important that patients not be used as pawns in a dispute. It is also important that all voices be heard. I appeal to those on all sides to come to the table.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell raised the very important issue of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016, elements of which are being refined. Work is ongoing and when it is complete, the Bill will be brought back to the House. I certainly hope that will happen in the short term, namely, in the spring.

The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, has published the Civil Registration Bill 2019 which will allow for same-sex parents to have the word "parent" recorded on birth certificates. That Bill will be brought forward in the spring of this year. I do not have the exact timetable. We have asked the Department for more information but we have not received it yet.

I did not understand the Senator's question about the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

The legislation has not been fully commenced.

I will obtain information for the Senator on that matter.

I agree completely that the arts and creativity are integral to who we are. Earlier the Oscar nominations were announced and we can all see the success of the Irish in the arts. The Senator is right to ask that we consider this matter. The Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is debating it this week but I would be happy to have a significant debate on the arts, the arts community and our culture and how they can be part of a new, modern Ireland emerging from the shadows of recession.

I would be happy to have that debate and commend the Senator for raising the matter.

I do not have the answer for Senator Conway-Walsh regarding Údarás Na Gaeltachta and the vacant units in County Mayo. Perhaps she might raise the matter in a Commencement debate.

Senator Dolan raised the issue of history. As Members will know, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, has set up a review of the teaching of history as an optional subject. It is to be completed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in the coming weeks and we will have a debate on it in the House when it is complete.

I do not have information to hand on the health issues raised by Senator Bacik, but I would be happy to liaise with her on them.

I join Senator Byrne in congratulating all of the schools involved in the debate today. I thank them for their work.

Senator Boyhan raised the issue of Bethany Home, as did Senator Norris. The Government has today given a 12-month extension to the mother and baby homes commission of investigation. The fourth interim report has been published today. On Bethany Home, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, has said she will wait until she has received the final reports before making any decision. I note the comments of Senators Boyhan and Norris and the commission. On 6 February we will have a debate in the House on the matter raised by Senator Boyhan.

Senator Hopkins raised the issue of the N5 project, which is a very important one in providing a gateway to the west. A Commencement matter might be a more expeditious way to get an answer. I do not have the answer to hand about the project.

I have answered Senator Devine about the nurses' strike.

In response to Senator Higgins, perhaps we need to have a reflective look at what happened yesterday and some of the contribution she made this afternoon and have a series of rolling debates, as Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell said. That would be of assistance to us all. I would be happy to talk to Senator Higgins about the matter.

Senator Reilly raised the issue of St. Finian's community college in Swords. Perhaps raising the issue by way of a Commencement matter might be a better way to get a reply.

Senator Norris raised a number of issues, in particular about an Egyptian television presenter. We should all stand with and send a message of support to that person. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade needs to communicate quite clearly to the Egyptian Government our displeasure at the jailing of any person for interviewing people in a manner that allows differing viewpoints to be expressed on television and in the media. We should all condemn the incarceration of someone for interviewing a gay person. I hope the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will send a message to the Egyptian authorities on the issue.

On the issue of passports, having the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the House to discuss a Commencement matter might perhaps be a better way for Senator Murnane O'Connor to get a reply. I do not have the information she sought.

Senators Feighan and Ó Céidigh raised the issue of the centenary and the appointment of the first Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy George Noble Plunkett, 100 years ago today.

Senator Warfield made a very pertinent point in advance of the RTÉ "Prime Time" programme tonight. We need to send a very strong message of support and solidarity to the trans community which is marginalised and needs support. We need people to understand and be educated properly, not in a sensational way. I hope tonight's programme will be educational, informative and factual. As the Senator rightly said, we should all reject transphobia. We should all work to ensure we bring people on a journey and inform them. There are members of the community who are feeling vulnerable, isolated, rejected and completely unheard. I hope tonight and from now on we can stand together and have that debate and a movement of equality and inclusivity. I would be happy to have a debate in the House following tonight's programme. I thank the Senator for making the remark. As the national broadcaster, it is important that RTÉ inform in a way that is not sensational or derogatory and ensure equality and respect for all people and citizens.

Senator Paddy Burke raised the issue of retail and asked for the Minister to come before the House. I would be happy to arrange for that to happen.

The issue of Brexit was mentioned by a number of Members, in particular by Senator Ardagh. We will have a debate on the issue this evening. Rather than give a substantial reply to Members now, we can have that debate when the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is in the House later.

I have proposed that at the end of the Order of Business we stand for a minute's silence in memory of our late colleague and former Seanadóir Mark Killalea.

I accept the proposal made by the Leader. We will now stand for a minute's silence.