Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes called for debate on Northern Ireland. He spoke about the results being depressing and asked for the Taoiseach or the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House to debate the issue. He also asked about convening a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to deal with the appointment of the Members to serve on the new Oireachtas Commission and the Cathaoirleach replied that it was not appropriate for that committee. I too wish we could have clarity on this issue. If the Cathaoirleach can think of another forum or medium through which we can receive clarification, I would be glad to know of it. We should put our heads together on the matter.

Senator O'Toole said we must accept the decision of the electorate and we must do so. We may cavil at the methods through which it came about, but we cannot cavil at the result. We are all strong exponents of democracy but if we turn about and say we do not like what came out of the ballot box, we are not democrats.

Senator Ryan asked for a debate on Northern Ireland. He also spoke about the report on education in The Sunday Times. I read that report too, which was awful. I was never in favour of benchmarking schools. Should schools turn out a prototype student who will get A, B C, D or E or should they turn out a rounded person? We cannot measure one against the other. Parents want decent results – we wanted them and we understand that – but at the same time many more qualities go to make up the character of a person and these are provided within the school ambience. To coldly name a school as being the top is completely wrong. If we go that way, we will create two-tier education and ghettos in education, which is wrong.

The Senator also talked about trespassing in Shannon and asked why a person was fined. That is a court matter and concerns the person who delivered the fine. We do not engage in court issues here. The Senator said the maxim of proportionality entered into the issue.

Senator Dardis said we should discuss Northern Ireland and I agree. Senator Finucane mentioned the annual competitiveness review, which was published recently. The review found that Ireland and Finland are the European countries with the greatest lack of competitiveness. He also compared the prices of soft drinks and hard liquor. He raised the matter of the "name and shame" campaign. Senator Leyden is to be praised for having started the campaign.