Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I do not know who the trumpeter is, but I do not expect tomorrow to be as calamitous as we would anticipate from the front page of The Irish Times today. Senators Ormonde and Fitzgerald robustly defended the very fine education record of the past five years and the huge improvements that have been made. Senator Ormonde also called for a debate on planning.

Senator Bannon raised the national spatial strategy which I understand is due quite soon. If we could tie it in with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, we could have a debate on all these related issues. Senator Dooley raised the matter of planning, which appears to be a much sought after debate. Senator McCarthy from Cork referred to one-off housing on which he is at one with the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. Interestingly, he also asked for An Taisce to be discussed in the overall debate. I agree with him. Why should any one organisation be a sacred cow that cannot be discussed, as if it was a vestal virgin who could never be approached. We would do well to include it in an overall debate on planning.