Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I will inquire whether the Minister for Health could be available later this week to discuss the community nursing home issue outlined by Senator O'Brien and, therefore, I do not propose to accept his amendment to the Order of Business.

Senator O'Keeffe stated the number of homeless people in Dublin has increased significantly. We should all address this as much as possible. There is a need for more beds for homeless people and I will raise this with the Minister, especially coming up to Christmas as the weather gets colder. I have made a number of requests to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to deal with the issues of Syria and Egypt and to have a general debate on foreign affairs. I will get back to the Senator on that.

Senator Norris referred to the despicable practices of some media sources in the UK and he questioned the activities and conduct of the media here. I assure him that any complaints made to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will be investigated thoroughly, as they have been previously. Senators Ó Murchú, Mullins, Conway and O'Sullivan also sought a debate on the role of, and ownership of, the media. I will endeavour to have the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources come to the House for a debate. This issue should be debated in this House.

Senator Paul Coghlan raised the treatment of tax exiles. I am sure the matter will be addressed in the budget proposals. The amount they paid over the past year is certainly not acceptable and I am sure the Minister for Finance will address that matter.

Senators Cullinane and Bradford sought a debate on pre-budget submissions. The Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brian Hayes, has attended the House on a number of occasions to deal with the ECB interest rates and other issues.