Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Minihan felt there should be a debate on crime and full fiscal projections made public for the year ahead on a monthly basis. It is timely that we should have a financial debate, because it will be useful when taking the Bill in the House, which might not be for some time.

Senator O'Meara asked if social partnership would embrace the ideas of asylum seekers. I understood that the issue was being addressed under the community pillar.

The strategic rail review has been leaked progressively. Whether that is good or bad is questionable, but it happens in all Governments. I will ask the Minister for Transport to publish it so we can debate it fully in the House.

Senator O'Meara also asked about freedom of information. There are constitutional dimensions to the matter. We already get Government decisions, but reports on decisions to be made at Cabinet are examined in this document, which is to be made public when freedom of information changes are brought about. In this regard, I reiterate what I said to Senator Ryan.

Senator Mooney furnished us with the interesting news regarding what Carlow County Council is doing in a restructuring, helpful way in respect of the change of nations. He thought other counties should do the same.

Senator Coghlan called for a debate on crime and alluded to how the issue of Shannon is being handled. He is in support of the Garda and feels that, if necessary, the Army should help the Garda to free up gardaí for their everyday duties.

Senator Hanafin stated peace protests should be peaceful. He also raised the matter of God in the European constitution. Deputy John Bruton is his ally in that regard. We will be making arrangements at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges tonight to decide on the dates when the three speakers will speak about the new constitution of Europe in the House.

Senator Ulick Burke raised the matter of allocating money to parents of people with disabilities. Senator Quinn stated the need for a financial debate. He added a much-needed dimension to the debate on the freedom of information issue, wondering if Cabinet would ever decide on anything if every 'i' had to be dotted and every 't' crossed. It is a matter that certainly needs to be debated. I reiterate what I said the Senator Ryan, which was borne out by other speakers, namely that when freedom of information was adopted we were way ahead of any other European country. Westminster is only at the very bottom rung and bringing about freedom of information with great reluctance. I refer to the Labour Party in the UK and we have—