Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I wish the Taoiseach and the Cabinet well in their deliberations on the serious challenge that is at hand. I know I speak for all colleagues on all sides of the House on this matter.

Senator Ó Murchú proposed an all-party motion on humanitarian issues and the poor people of Gaza. That was supported by Senator Bacik. I fully support it too. I urge group leaders to meet with me after the Order of Business this morning to put that process in place and to try to agree a motion and have it on the Order Paper before next Wednesday. We will do anything we can to support those people in their plight. I thank colleagues who have raised the matter on the Order of Business day after day for their serious interest and concern about the serious humanitarian challenges and difficulties being experienced by the people of Gaza.

On the issues raised by Senators Regan, Leyden and Ross, the Minister will be in the House tomorrow and, as I indicated yesterday, their concerns should be taken directly to him. He is an eminent lawyer also. The Senators can bring those matters to his attention and have them teased out.

Senator Leyden brought to the attention of the House the challenges regarding developments in agriculture and the Minister's announcement last night on the deadline of 5.30 p.m. this evening for applications for REPS 4. That is a serious challenge to the agricultural community. I will bring the views of the Senator to the attention of the Minister later today.

Senator Quinn outlined to the House the challenges facing licensees in the haulage business. He suggested that the legislation in this area may have to be amended. The Minister for Transport will be present in the House when we discuss a Bill next Tuesday at 11.45 a.m. Perhaps the Senator can bring the matter to the Minister's attention on Second Stage.

Senators Hanafin and Norris referred to the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill that will come before us for our consideration. The Bill will be in the House all afternoon next Tuesday. The Taoiseach will address the House next Tuesday on Northern Ireland from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. At 3 p.m. the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be in the House, all evening and all night, for that Bill which has come about urgently due to the serious challenge that faces society. Every colleague in this House wants to see something done about crime and the challenges we face. We look forward to the Minister's presence in the House on Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening.

Senator Healy Eames, Ross, Norris, Coghlan, Bacik, Donohoe and Callely all raised the issue of pharmacists. They called on me again to invite the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, to update us on that issue. I made that request but as Members are aware the Minister is out of the country this week. I will endeavour to have the matter discussed next week before the summer recess.

Senator Healy Eames also raised third level education. She asked that the Minister would come to the House to debate the matter. I have no difficulty with that. I have already acceded to having a debate on education at the earliest possible time.

Senators Cannon, Glynn, Coghlan and Donohoe spoke of the challenges facing small and medium-sized family businesses and the failure of the banks to support them. The availability of credit to these businesses, which is their lifeline, has been minimised - I am being generous - by the banks. I ask colleagues to raise this issue with the Minister for Finance when in the House tomorrow. This is possibly the most important issue before us prior to the recess. We must ensure something is done in this regard.

The banks have been recapitalised to the tune of €6 billion by way of support from Government with the agreement of Members of both Houses. I call on the banks supported by the taxpayer to continue to make available credit during the next three or four months to small and medium sized businesses. I accept that the banks not covered by the guarantee are under no obligation to do so. However, those Irish banks that have done well down through the years, for whom the past ten or 12 years have been good in terms of their shareholders, should play their part and support those who have been the backbone of our economy in the interest of the retention of 750 to 800 jobs in small and medium sized family businesses. We are hearing at constituency level that the banks are not supporting people who have good credit ratings and have always met their obligations. These people should be given priority in this their hour of need. I support the call made by the four Senators mentioned and I call on them to raise this issue tomorrow with the Minister for Finance when he is in this House. No time limit has been set in respect of the debate tomorrow to allow colleagues to tease out and make known their views.

I will pass on Senator Keaveney's views to the Minister in regard to the illegal importation of cigarettes and alcohol. While this is a matter for the Garda Síochána, if there is a need to update or amend our legislation to increase penalties in this area we should do so. On the issue raised yesterday by Senator Callely, I passed on our support to the family of Sharon Commins who has, unfortunately, been kidnapped. We hope and pray that this matter will be successfully concluded as early as possible. I wish the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Department officials well in their deliberations in this regard.

Senators Hannigan and Mullen asked about overseas said. While I agree in the main with what they have said, I believe we have been exemplary as a small nation in terms of our contribution to overseas aid. We are the sixth largest contributor per head of population in the world, which says a great deal about our commitment as a small nation to the Third World.