Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

"–noting the Government's commitment towards improving school accommodation as demonstrated by the fourfold increase in funding for primary buildings since 1997;

–noting the dramatic expansion of the school building and refurbishment programme at primary level;

–noting the intention of the Government to proceed as speedily as possible with Public Private Partnership projects in the primary area;

–noting the improvement in the pupil teacher ratio at primary level;

commends the Government for the expansion of the primary capital programme; and notes the determination of the Minister for Education and Science and the Government to continue the school building programme in order to meet new and emerging needs and to eliminate the substandard accommodation which has accumulated in primary schools because of past under-investment."

Fearaim fíorchaoin fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Over the past 20 minutes we have listened to highly charged and emotive language, allegations of lies and other wild and, in many cases, unfounded allegations. I will do my best to resist and not respond in kind. I will deal briefly with the queue jumping syndrome to which Senator Ulick Burke referred. I am familiar with the plans the Minister and Minister of State have in place to deal with that effectively. I will also deal with the culture of publishing lists prior to elections, a culture which has prevailed over many decades and during the watches of successive Governments.