I welcome yesterday's news on what the Cabinet has approved for the rent-a-room scheme. It is an issue I have raised here many times, including in two Commencement debates. It is a win-win situation for older people but also for those who need student accommodation. People can rent a room for up to €14,000 and it does not affect their medical card. It is welcome news because many people live alone and to have someone living with them means they have company, as well as the fact it will not affect their medical card.

People were afraid to rent out a room because until now, it would have affected their cards. This is most welcome news and I thank the Government for approving it yesterday.

I know I am only supposed to raise one item but I would also like to raise the fact that businesses, especially small businesses, are in turmoil at the moment. I have received a lot of contact from small hospitality businesses concerning the minimum wage and sick pay. All those measures came in this month, which is the lean time of the year for businesses. January and February are the leanest months and those businesses are now facing all these extra charges. There is also the initiative to bring back one's plastic bottles. While I fully support the initiative, the training was held during the ten days running up to Christmas, when businesses are at their busiest. I believe the training needs to be held again because so many businesses are not aware of the full facts in that regard. Whoever organised it for the ten days leading up to Christmas is not aware of what businesses face.

I join my colleagues in supporting the amendment of the Order of Business today. The Leader and all my colleagues across the House will recall the lively debates we had in the run-up to Christmas. We believe this needs more time. We only returned on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Today is only Wednesday. There is also a proposal that the Seanad will not sit one day next week. We have a lot of business to do. Having looked at the schedule and the conduct of our business for some months, it has become evident that people are under pressure and shorter timeframes are being proposed. I understand that people have commitments but we also have commitments as elected Members of this House. We want to exercise due diligence in respect of legislation. I hope, therefore, that the Leader will be sympathetic and supportive. I know she is supportive of many of the proposed changes. She articulated that support well, and in fairness to her and her colleagues, she teased out at great length some of this legislation with the Minister for Justice. I too have engaged with the Minister for Justice outside these Houses. I have made a case on behalf of some of our Members. We think we should have the opportunity today. We should move away from guillotining where at all possible. We are democrats. We all want debate and discussion. I hope the Leader will agree with the proposal and I think she will. It is a matter for her, and I respect that, just as it is a matter for us to propose a change to the Order of Business. It would be helpful for all sides.

Having talked last night to representatives of the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and to various councils from all parties and none, I know they are watching this space. They believe they have a good cross-party case. All parties met us on this issue before Christmas. They will be tuned in and to be fair to them and the work they have done and the commitment they have given to the joint policing committees, we can reach a compromise. Let us work together in a collaborative way on behalf of the city and county councillors who elect most of us, although not all of us, to this House.

I would like to remember the late Councillor Con O'Leary, an Independent from Cork, who died and was buried last week. He was a great character. He was an Independent councillor for Cork and had a small shop called Con's Shop. The word, "Con", had many connotations in itself but he was a lovely man. He was elected in 1991 and sought re-election in 1999. Indeed, I think he may have run as an Independent candidate in a general election. I know the Cathaoirleach knew him particularly well. That is what I have to say.

I ask the Leader to consider the reasonable request before her today.

I wish to be associated with the Senator's remarks and offer sympathy to the family of the late Con O'Leary. He was a formidable politician and an illustrious character. I was away last week and missed his funeral. The Senator is right that he served the people on the north side of Cork city with distinction in his own unique way. He had a wonderful shop, an emporium with everything in the world you could want. We sympathise with his family.

I welcome to the Gallery the students from Johnstown bunscoil in Cabinteely, not Glenageary. We had students from a Johnstown school here earlier but they were from Glenageary. The students now with us are from Cabinteely. They are very welcome. Cuirim fáilte roimh gach duine. I hope that as part of their visit, they might get off homework tonight to celebrate their visit to Leinster House.