Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Finucane, the acting leader of the Opposition, asked me to consider taking Report Stage of the pensions Bill following a sos this afternoon. That sounds sensible and in principle I agree. However, I must speak to the other leaders and perhaps we could have a brief meeting outside following the Order of Business. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. It is a sensible suggestion and if possible we will go along with it.

The Senator also raised the matter of the Taoiseach's meeting yesterday with Mr. Martin McGuinness and the tough stance he adopted during but certainly after that meeting. Everyone wants the Good Friday Agreement to stick and the peace process to move forward and, generally speaking, that has been happening. As we listen to debates and to other speakers it is often difficult to be definitive in what one says. It may well be that the Taoiseach's stance, remarks that have been made here in this House regarding the apportionment of blame and other matters have made these issues sink home. I hope that will happen.

Senator O'Toole raised the matter of housing statistics and the seemingly random way in which housing Ministers obtain information. We are hoping to fit in debates on that issue and on the drugs issue in the next two weeks.

Senator O'Meara raised the issue of electronic voting, about which the Cathaoirleach has spoken. The Senator was concerned about the small amount of money being spent on the process of registering would-be voters. There is huge movement in Ireland now, not just from estate to estate but from county to county and from electoral area to electoral area. It seems there should be a sustained campaign, not just in the run-up to elections, but constantly on such matters.

Senator McCarthy and others raised the issue of AIDS yesterday. It is hoped to have a debate on that issue also as soon as possible.

Senator Dardis agreed with Senator Finucane's comments and referred to a particular Sinn Féin Deputy who spoke on radio last night about armed combat in the past. In answer to Senator Browne's question on the delineation of the boundaries of regional health boards, there has not been a debate on health in the House for some time and it would be useful to have one.

Senator Mooney spoke on the status of the Irish language and explained what would be needed in Europe. I believe there is a definite movement to block this happening and it does not emanate from Government circles. I note so-called learned articles and informative pieces in various newspapers and periodicals on the subject. There is no doubt that there is a definite move to undermine the movement to enhance the status of the Irish language. There has been a debate on the matter in the other House and in my view, the Dáil copied the Seanad because we were the first to hold one. There was all-party agreement.

There is now a real opportunity for conferring great status on the Irish language, not in a snobbish sense but in the belief that it deserves its rightful place. I am equally aware there are many so-called sophisticates who do not want this to happen and who are putting forward all kinds of perceived insurmountable obstacles to the achievement of that status. We will review the situation after the debate this week on the Private Members' motion in the other House.

Senator Norris also asked a question about the Irish language and requested a debate on Temple Bar. He also asked for a debate on the future of the Irish theatre——