Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The Leas-Chathaoirleach caught me unawares also.

The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, referred to the committee established to deal with the issue of pyrite. I will try to ascertain when it will complete its report and will certainly arrange a debate on the report and building standards. It would be appropriate to do so. As the Senator mentioned, Priory Hall is one example, but there are probably many more buildings which were constructed - to put it mildly - without the necessary standards being adhered to.

I welcome unreservedly the fact that Fianna Fáil will actively campaign in support of a "Yes" vote in the referendum, an issue on which I do not intend to dwell. After the Order of Business we will have the debate to which I am sure there will be many contributors.

Senator Ivana Bacik sought a review of the legislation dealing with female genital mutilation. That issue may be included in statements on similar health matters at a later stage, perhaps, as she mentioned, in a year's time.

I do not propose to accept Senator David Norris's amendment to the Order of Business. The terms of the treaty are clear, but, obviously, the Senator has a differing view. I am sure we will hear these points made during the debate on Second Stage of the Bill.

Senator Colm Burke spoke about one landlord paying a sum of €80,000 in respect of the second home tax, which meant he had over 400 houses. The Senator mentioned a sum of €32 million which he corrected to €3.2 million. It is an issue we can raise with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he comes to the House to discuss household charges and water metering.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh welcomed the announcement on job creation in Inverin in the Connemara Gaeltacht. I am sure these jobs will bring significant benefits to the community. The Senator also called for a debate on regional development. We will try to arrange a debate on that issue in the near future.

Senator Quinn spoke about the brent geese and called for a debate on nature and the environment. It is not a subject we have discussed to date and I will try to arrange a debate on these issues at an early opportunity. I understand we debated the issue of fracking on a previous occasion, although that discussion may have taken place in the wider context of natural resources. Senators also discussed the issue on the Adjournment. As the Senator called for a debate focusing solely on fracking, I will ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to come to the House for such a debate.

Senator Walsh spoke about the decade of commemorations. I had the pleasure of attending a debate on this matter in Waterford City Council. The debate was not arranged by the council but was part of a national commemoration of the third Home Rule Bill and John Redmond. We had a wonderful debate, with the people involved including Dermot Meleady, Frank Callanan, SC, the UK Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Hugo Swire, MP, Maurice Manning and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. It was a well attended event and a national commemoration. It became clear from the debate that the two old Sinn Féin parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, have air-brushed the Irish Parliamentary Party out of history.