The beauty of this Chamber is that so many varied topics are raised by various people, many of them very interesting. Long may that openness of debate continue. I ask the Leader to respond to the varied topics of today.

I thank the ten Members of the House for their contributions. I commend and thank Senator Higgins for her participation in the European elections. As the Cathaoirleach said, beidh lá eile aici. She had a good result and she had the courage to run. She may have been unsuccessful but, to be fair, she was and is an excellent parliamentarian and, as she said, she can be a European in this Chamber as well. We wish her well and thank her.

A number of Senators, including Senators Ardagh, Boyhan and Craughwell, raised the issue of the election in the context of turnout. On the issue around the spoiled ballots, it is interesting that in Ireland South, 5% of the votes were deemed invalid, in Dublin, it was 4%, and in Midlands-North-West, it was 3.5%. Therefore, I am not sure it is an unusual figure in terms of the volume of spoiled votes. However, I agree that, as Senator Boyhan said, we need an electoral commission to be established and to be up and running. It is important, as part of a functioning democracy, that we have an independent electoral commission because there are issues around education and the dissemination of information, for example, in a plebiscite or a referendum campaign.

I will support anybody on the need to increase and enhance education. At a time when we have civic, social and political education, CSPE, and policy modules in our schools, there is an onus on people to be au fait themselves with how to vote. We cannot lose that element of personal responsibility. Nonetheless, anything that can enhance the democratic process is something we should all support. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House.

Senators Craughwell and Ardagh raised the issue of child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. In the area of mental health, we need to see a continuing improvement of access to waiting lists, and that is a priority for Government. The number of people waiting is 2,738, which has declined marginally from this time last year. The number of those waiting longer than 12 months is currently 336, which is 56 fewer than last year. In saying that, both Senator McFadden and Senator Ardagh have made the case for the need for funding in the HSE service plan for the different community healthcare organisation, CHO, regions. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who I would be happy to have come to the House, will look at the issue of CAMHS in the context of out-of-hours services, seven days a week cover, eating disorders, specialist services, prevention and early intervention. In tandem with an improvement in the number of acute beds and the issue of access to services and referrals, I hope we will see an improvement in the service.

I will be happy for the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Conway-Walsh raised the issue of drug use in rural Ireland. I am a member of the JPC for Cork city and county. While the figures show that crime levels have reduced, the increase in the incidence of drug-driving is alarming. We need to be more vigilant in that regard. I will be happy to have the issue discussed again in the House.

Senators Higgins and Conway-Walsh raised the issues of exploration, drilling and the climate emergency. We all recognise the need to take significant steps to respond to climate change. The Government has committed to publishing the climate action plan, with actions in every sector, one of which will be looking at our reliance on fossil fuels and increasing our use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation from 30% to 70% by 2030. A debate on the matter is badly needed, but it is interesting to note that neither the Oireachtas committee nor the Citizens' Assembly made any recommendation that exploration be banned, as contained in a Bill on the subject. We must ensure we have a back-up supply when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. If we do not have energy and electricity supplies, we will have another argument. I ask those Members who support the Bill from where are we going to source our power supply in the future.

Senators Craughwell and Ó Céidigh referred to the Defence Forces, as Senator McFadden did yesterday. As this is International Peacekeepers Day, we should all pay tribute to and salute the men and women in the Defence Forces. It is not only about floods but the security they provide and the peacekeeping in which they engage. The Government values the Defence Forces and holds their members in high esteem. That is why the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, established a pay commission to look at their pay and conditions. When its report is published, Senator Craughwell will see further action being taken. Let us wait for it to be published.

It was leaked last week. I did not leak it.

I know. The Senator would not dare do so.

Will Senator Craughwell, please, allow the Leader to conclude?

There is an independent body was set up by the Minister of State who sits and participates at the Cabinet table.

He is not a Minister.

The Minister of State sits at the Cabinet table.

Who holds the portfolio?

That is an academic exercise, as the Senator knows, no matter how much he throws his eyes up to Heaven. The Minister of State sits at the Cabinet table and is at the heart of the decision-making of the Government. We must await publication of the report, in tandem with, as I said yesterday, the restoration of pay and the withdrawal of the FEMPI legislation. We have seen pay increases, from 6.2% to 7.4%, for those with salaries under €70,000. As a committed former member of the Defence Forces, the nominating body he is representing in this Chamber, the Senator should not pre-empt what will be contained in the report. When we have it, we can have another debate on the issue. All of us on this side of the House, including Senator McFadden, speak to the Minister of State. I meet members of the Defence Forces every day, some of whom are my friends and former classmates. I understand the situation and we are committed to implementing the report. I am happy, therefore, to accept the amendment proposed to the Order of Business as the Senator has a genuine motivation for bringing it forward.

That is very kind of the Leader.

I, too, thank the Leader.

Senator Paddy Burke referred to the very important issue of Dublin Port and cruise liners. The decision made by the port could have a knock-on effect on economic activity throughout the country, not just in Dublin. I hope it will reconsider its decision. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, should demand that it do so. Cobh and Cork have benefited from the great work done by the Port of Cork. Cruise liners should not be discouraged from coming to the capital city; rather, they should be encouraged. I hope we will send that message from this Chamber. I will be happy for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator Norris spoke about the response to what Senator Mullen had said last week. That matter has been dealt with.

Senator Mullen spoke about the elections.

That is the issue I raised today.

Senator Ó Céidigh raised the important issue of shadow banking. It is a source of concern. I read an article on the matter in the Irish Examiner during the week in which it was stated this was the sixth largest centre in the world for shadow banking, which is incredible. Therefore, it has an impact. Oversight and regulation need to be improved as it can have an effect on the traditional banking system. The Senator said it was worth trillions of dollars in the USA and I understand Bank of America was involved in it. The Senator also said we must act to deal with it and educate and inform people of it. I will be happy for the Minister responsible to come to the House to discuss it because it is such an important issue. The Cathaoirleach said that while the Senator's piece was interesting, we had to be careful about it. Some of the commentary on the issue is interesting and a Google search throws up a high number of articles on it. We sleepwalked into the banking crash.

I agree 100%.