Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I meant that in a positive light. The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, deserves the congratulations of this House on seeing an extremely difficult initiative through to its final conclusion.

I ask the Leader once again to consider providing some time for either statements or a debate on the annual International Fund for Ireland report. It has been a tradition in this House over the past ten years that the Leader has made time available for such a debate, particularly for those of us from the Border counties and the west who benefit greatly from this fund. In light of the severe criticisms levelled at it by a financial watchdog in the United States, it is timely that we would have an opportunity to rebut those inaccuracies and support Willie McCarter and the board of the IFI in the excellent work they do.