Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The nursing home issue is one that could be discussed in the first instance by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children. It is a matter of finding the best way to proceed with that issue.

The question of a debate in the House on the role of the Defence Forces and peacekeeping is a matter for the Whips to arrange in due course.

It is best to allow the process of engagement in Northern Ireland that is currently ongoing to be completed. I very much appreciate the unanimous support of the House for the efforts that are being made to effect a completion of all devolution arrangements in Northern Ireland by agreement between the parties, which the Governments have been seeking to facilitate and assist in terms of the detailed and prolonged discussions that have been ongoing. Perhaps we should await the outcome of the present discussions before deciding to debate them because then we will have a full picture of the issues involved. Personally, I believe that would be a better way to proceed. I will brief the leaders on the matter on my return.

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