Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Ryan also wanted a debate on Northern Ireland, as did Senator Quinn. I will try to arrange it. The Taoiseach is travelling to the North today to meet the Prime Minister, Mr. Blair. I apologise for not covering these matters already but there was a diversion. Regarding Cork as European City of Culture and the School of Music, the Department of Finance is considering the issue. I hope it will make an announcement shortly.

I thank Senator Quinn for his remarks on the debate last week, which went an hour and a half beyond the allotted time. The debate lasted only 40 minutes in the Dáil but there were terrific contributions from all sides here. The Senator also raised the delay in bringing cases to trial. Sometimes it takes three years for a case to come to trial, which is a long time for justice to be seen to be done.

Senator Finucane raised the matter of the 34 special protection areas for saving energy and warned of the effects on the countryside if wind energy is pursued in each of the areas in question. I find that wind energy always provokes huge debate and antagonism, yet one sees wind energy projects in other countries.