Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I would far prefer us to have money in our pockets and purses than not to have it. Senator Mansergh said electronic voting confers no advantage on anyone and that he is glad of the good financial returns. So am I, as I lived through many years when those returns were bad and one was scrounging for every penny one could get for one's Department. It is a good return. From a tax perspective I am sure some payments were made up front and others were not.

Senator Mooney mentioned Iraq and we badly need a debate on what is now happening in that country, which is far more terrifying than anything that ever happened there before.

Senator Norris spoke about the UK providing money for veterans and their relatives to visit war graves. The National Lottery Bill in Westminster only applies to those in the UK but the British Embassy here is trying to change the law to secure the same subvention for Irish people travelling to war graves. I will take this up as I received correspondence on the issue yesterday. Senator Norris also mentioned the changes to the Loughlinstown dual carriageway. There is a specific traffic reason for that change.

Senator Bannon raised the deteriorating postal service in Longford. I regret that and we have been trying to get the Minister to come to the House for a debate on the postal service, but in answering other questions the Minister has pointed out that he is not responsible for the day to day operation of the postal service.

Senator Glynn mentioned car insurance and we will ask the Tánaiste to attend a debate on that matter. Senator McCarthy mentioned the financial institutions' actions on 29 February. It was very mealy-mouthed of those institutions to seize upon that day in order to say they compute interest on a daily basis. I thought women would have a great time on 29 February but obviously not. I refer to the tradition of women approaching men on that date, which is an old-fashioned notion. Cupid only strikes for women every four years but we are not waiting around at all.