Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes, Leader of the Opposition, asked why the House is not sitting on Thursday next. A Government Department requested that the House take a particular Bill on Thursday and we agreed to do so. However, late last Thursday, the office of the Minister contacted us with a request that the Bill be deferred to a later date. While I am aware that Members are anxious to be in attendance on Thursdays, I am sorry the arrangement had to be cancelled. I take the Senator's point on sittings on Wednesdays and Thursdays and hope a cancellation like this will not arise in the future.

Senator Brian Hayes also asked about the expenditure of €250,000 on ministerial photographs. I suspect equal amounts were spent on ministerial photographs in the Administration headed by former Taoiseach, Deputy John Bruton. However, as the Freedom of Information Act was not in force at the time, we do not know how much was involved.