Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

We will have the debate next Wednesday. Regarding the comments of Senator O'Toole, the representatives of the parties are meeting the Attorney General today at 4.30 p.m. Some of our questions, clearly, will be addressed, but we have a responsibility as a House which orders its own business. Therefore after the meeting we should regroup and decide on our next step. Senator O'Toole checked on the Indian precedent of ten years ago and it turned out to be a most extraordinary business, leading to mayhem all around.

Senator McDowell raised the matter of GM foods. Responsibility is divided between the Departments of Agriculture and Food and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. We will seek to have the relevant Minister come and address the issue. We could link with that Senator Ulick Burke's point about foods presented as being made in Ireland when they are not as acknowledged by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland during a committee debate.

Senator Dardis wished Commissioner David Byrne well as he has announced he is not going forward for another term. The Senator also acclaimed the Intel investment in Leixlip and raised the situation in Iraq and Gaza, which will be included in next Wednesday's debate. Senator Ulick Burke noted that Bord Glas is now defunct and what the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said. He also raised the matter of league tables in schools leading to access to third level. It is interesting what both the Farmer's Journal and The Irish Times have to say on that subject this morning. I am pleased to see that a great many students from what we regard as ordinary second level schools around the country, community, comprehensive and others, gain access to third level. I was amazed to see that students like to stay in their own locality. I always believed one would like to get away from home when one was 17 or 18. Apparently they are more modest nowadays in their ambitions, or more demure. I do not know which. The Senator wanted a debate on that matter.