I thank the nine Members who spoke for their contributions to the Order of Business.

To respond to Senator Leyden's contribution, we all welcome the publication and signing of the national broadband strategy. I am disappointed the Senator does not welcome its guarantee of high-speed broadband for every home, business and farm in the country.

I do, and the Leader should not misrepresent me.

Order.

I am sure the Senator's people in his county of Roscommon are congratulating Senator Hopkins-----

That is pure propaganda.

I am now congratulating Senator Feighan.

Has the Leas-Chathaoirleach no control of this man at all?

I cannot allow the Senator back in.

Senator Leyden is out of touch.

I am not responsible for the competence of the Leader's response. Everybody gets their turn here.

The Leader has made irresponsible comments.

Please, Senator.

I shall re-state what I said, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. It is disappointing that Senator Leyden, in his contribution this morning, did not welcome the fact that high-speed broadband will be supplied to every home, business and farm in the country, and in particular in Roscommon.

Hear, hear.

I am sure Senators Feighan and Hopkins will be delighted-----

Yes.

-----to tell the people of Roscommon that Senator Leyden could not welcome broadband.

Senator Leyden is out of touch.

Everybody knows full well, as do the Members opposite who complain about rural Ireland being left behind, that one of the most important things is connectivity. I have noticed that the contributions of the other Opposition Members did not do what was done by Senator Leyden.

What about Deputy Naughten?

They are only happy when there are miseries.

Did Deputy Naughten not help as well?

Order, please.

Senator Leyden probably wishes he was still the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

He was Minister of State but that is a long time ago.

We had automatic phones then, Gearóid.

Senator Leyden was probably the Minister who had telephones in the boot of his car and delivered them to all of the homes.

Yes, and asked people whether they wanted a black or red phone.

We would not even have the fixed lines for phones if it were not for Senator Leyden-----

That is correct.

-----the then Minister, Mark Killilea, and, most especially, Albert Reynolds. That is fact.

And Padraig Faulkner.

And Padraig Faulkner.

Order, please. We cannot be having this ad-libbing.

Senator Leyden held his post with distinction.

Senator Leyden will remember Albert Reynolds putting his sweet lips a little closer to the phone on "The Live Mike" one Friday night. I remind Senator Leyden, as a former Minister-----

Yes.

-----that the Attorney General and the European Commission have advised that it would be against state aid rules and procurement laws to simply designate the ESB, or any semi-State body, to carry out the project. The Fianna Fáil way was never to pay notice to rules and do their own thing.

The Leader is being too political.

Order, please.

Senator Buttimer is the Leader of the House so should be more reasoned-----

Please, the Senator can take that up with the Leader afterwards.

---and responsible.

The Senator is out of order.

Senators Freeman, McDowell and McFadden have raised the issue of mental health. All of us concur with the remarks that if a person is an emergency case there should not be a 13 week wait, which is unacceptable. Senator Conway-Walsh also made reference to mental health.

Again, it is disappointing that Members do not acknowledge that there has been an increase in funding. I will say it again, as I said to Senator Devine yesterday, there has been an increase to €1.026 billion in 2020, which is an increase of €315 million since 2012. In addition, there has been an increase of €39 million in the mental health service budget, which will include €13 million for new developments next year.

I accept there has been an issue with recruitment and Senator McFadden made reference to the interview process. To be fair to the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, priority has been given to the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. There is too long a waiting list but the numbers have been reduced. As Senator McDowell said, with which I completely agree, if an emergency is an emergency then it is about the life of a person. That is the fundamental point and there is a need for a joined-up approach to the whole issue of mental health.

Senator Freeman made reference to the Government in terms of the Oireachtas cross-party committee. That is not a matter for the Government. It is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Dáil and Seanad, to reconvene the group, a measure of which I am very supportive.

Senator Conway-Walsh proposed an amendment to the Order of Business on the need for a debate on the Shane O'Farrell inquiry. All of us on this side of the House and indeed, all Members in both Houses, want justice for the O'Farrell family. I will not divide the House on the matter and acquiesce to the request. This is not a partisan matter.

I thank the Leader.

All of us want justice for the O'Farrell family.

I thank the Leader.

Reference was made to the strategic planning process. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has or is making changes to the process. I understand the point that was made about people having their say. One must balance housing needs with the rights of residents. Valid points were made and I am happy to arrange for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the matter.

Senator Bacik made reference to the recent comments by a number of by-election candidates. Yesterday, Senators McDowell, O'Sullivan and I discussed, as part of the Order of Business, the need for respect and tolerance in the political process. Sometimes we need to understand the import of our words, what they mean, and be mindful of how we say them. I am happy to have that debate, as we had yesterday, in the House. I will have a discussion with the Senator regarding her request for Government time to be set aside for the Labour Party Bill.

Senator McDowell made reference to the Georgian heart of Dublin being uprooted and demolished by the ESB. One cannot disagree with the points that he made about Fitzwilliam Square, where the ESB demolished a Georgian building, which beggars belief. I agree with him that there was an opportunity and I am disappointed that the ESB is not acquiescing. I am not aware that the ESB is selling the building on as I thought it was its headquarters.

The building is not the headquarters at all.

I thought it was.

So did I.

Perhaps Senator McDowell might table a Commencement matter on the topic. Perhaps he might ask Deputy O'Callaghan, as he quoted him, and ask him to ask his councillors for help. Perhaps the Senator is getting ready to run in Deputy O'Callaghan's constituency.

Maybe after the invitation from the Minister last night.

I was invited by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, to run for the Dáil.

We are not going back on last night's discussion.

Given some of the proposals made by Senator McDowell, where he wants to tie the hands of the next Government and Dáil, he might have an interest in being there himself given what his amendment proposed last night.

Hear, hear.

Senator Boyhan for President.

Order, please. The Leader to respond, without interruption.

I note that Senator Boyhan is not rushing to run in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

I am reviewing that also.

In light of that, we might tell the county council that Senator Boyhan is reviewing his position.

I have two options.

Senator Boyhan is considering it.

Senator Boyhan is considering his position, exactly.

Senator Byrne made reference to the issue of housing and the need for us, as a country, to have a debate and a discussion around what Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell calls rightsizing and what Senator Byrne called downsizing this morning. The points Senator Byrne made are becoming the norm in our offices. As we knock on doors, we find that single or widowed persons are living on their own in three or four-bedroom houses. We need to have the conversation and I am happy to arrange for the Minister to come to the House.

Senator Mac Lochlainn raised the important issue of mica in Donegal. Vested interests and stakeholders have held a series of meetings in Donegal. I am happy to bring his points to the Minister. Perhaps a Commencement matter on the topic might be more expeditious in getting a reply. The incidence of mica is a very important matter that needs to be resolved for the people of Donegal.

Finally, Senator Feighan made reference to the welfare of greyhounds in light of the "Prime Time Investigates" television programme. The Irish Greyhound Board has put €350,000 into a fund for a traceability database, which is welcome. We welcome any improvement to be taken in terms of animal welfare. Many people in the greyhound industry were appalled at the content of the programme and are working hard to redress the matter.

I will not divide the House in terms of the amendment proposed by Senator Conway-Walsh.

Senator Conway-Walsh proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 2 not be taken and that a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the need for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell be taken instead." Is the amendment agreed in light of what the Leader has said? Agreed.