Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Estimates will be published on Thursday. There has been a great deal of debate on the need for finance in various sectors. We should await publication of the Estimates in which, I am sure, the increases needed will be included. Senator O'Toole said that he cannot understand why there are not co-operative talks between the two sides. Each has ideas, but they do not seem to be coming together on them. We will see what develops over the next few days on that. Senator Ryan raised the question of who will run the two prisons, Loughan House and The Curragh, which are to be taken from the prison service. He wondered if it was a tactic to divert attention from the everyday issue of crime. For a long time, the Minister, Deputy McDowell, and his Department have sought a useful debate with the prison officers, but neither side seems to have arrived at that point.

Senator Ryan also raised embryonic stem cell research, a matter on which I am in complete agreement with him. I am sure all Senators are getting letters, e-mails and faxes on the issue. Everyone is getting very worked up about it. We must have the issue explained. The Senator referred to the secretive EU. I fully agree because we have been talking about that in our own committee. We must know on most issues what exactly the European Union plans rather than have it pounce something on us about which we are not clear.

Senator Ryan also asked about the possibility of providing time for a debate on Aer Rianta. We have been informed that an Aer Rianta Bill will be published next week. We have also been told that it will be taken in the Seanad. The Senator has asked for a debate and that will take place. I do not know what is happening, since what has emerged can only have come from one level, as we know. We have been told that the Bill is due next week, and that it will be taken in this House. We must wait to see if that is correct.

Senator Cox asked for a debate on advertising aimed at children and how it affects them. There have been many calls about that, and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Coughlan, also spoke about it. Senator Finucane read that 600 prisoners are on the loose for various reasons, perhaps not having returned after parole. I do not know if that figure is correct. It was in the newspapers, and we can seek to clarify it. If it is correct, it seems a huge number. Senator Kitt asked for a debate on the development charges. I have a note on that, received from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government this morning, which I will read at the end. Senator Ross wants a debate on Aer Rianta. He said that forces were frustrating the Minister, the same claim made in a newspaper this morning. Documents were released, I assume from the Cabinet or its environs, as Cabinet documents come to the Cabinet table and are then taken away again. The Minister would probably like to know himself where they came from.