Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Yes, within Government. We are not little "Yes" people bobbing our heads up and down and that is no bad thing, as long as the right policy is enunciated and adopted at the end of the day.

Senator O'Toole also raised the tobacco ban issue, which we should debate in this House. Like others I will nail my colours to the mast. I am in favour of the proposals of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, and the action he is taking on the issue. Senator O'Toole also raised the transport issue.

Senator Ryan commented on the tobacco issue and on road deaths. He pointed out that since the last time the Seanad met, 100 people have died on the roads. That is a fairly chilling statistic. The Senator also said rightly that the Garda should never be armed. He said he is sick of the debate on transport but he called for a debate on infrastructure, which is a much wider issue.

I commend Senator Brennan for the point he made so forcefully about the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in Adare. This point was taken up by others, but it is good that it was first raised by a Member from the area.

Senator Bannon raised the planning issue. The Taoiseach is clearly in line with the Fianna Fáil Party's position on the matter. County development plans are the responsibility of local authority councillors. It has always been my belief that country managers need to be sat upon very often and strongly.