Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It is important to note that the courts cleared the publication of extracts from school reports. This does not do justice to school authorities. I hope the Minister will urge the publication of complete reports, which deal with school management, school resources, geographical problems, special needs, disadvantage and other issues. The complete report gives a clear view of what staff, teachers, principal teachers and boards of management must cope with with limited resources.

The legislation which is to be published today brings us back to the issue I raised last week. The urgency to change compellability legislation is connected to the Government's thinking on another matter, which we are not discussing. On that other matter, I have said on at least four occasions that we are making things up as we go along and we will get it wrong. This question should have been thought of a fortnight ago. I do not blame anyone and I do not oppose the legislation. I merely alert Members to the fact that someone ought to have spotted the need for this measure sooner.

There was outrage when a court case collapsed on a technicality. We will be crucified, and rightly so, when — not if — we get this wrong. Every day raises a new difficulty. I do not blame any Member of this House for that but I do not believe it will work for us. Members of the Oireachtas will be left carrying the can because it will be the last body to deal with the issue and it is here that it will go wrong. Currently there is no determination as to how we will deal with it. I am grossly uncomfortable with what we are about to do.

I am grateful to the Leader for setting up a meeting with the Attorney General last week. We were all impressed by the Attorney General's commitment to due process, fair procedures and total probity in how we do our business. I hope his advice is listened to and acted upon.

A Member on the Government side expressed concern at the cost of telephone calls. Before that Member was elected, the House had long discussions about the selling of Eircom and that it would not result in cheap telephone calls, despite the fact that everyone on the Government side said it would. We now know that the breaking up of the three Aer Rianta airports will raise the cost of air travel. Whether or not this is a good or bad idea is a separate issue. The decision now being taken by Government will place an additional cost on passengers using the airports. This is agreed by all parties. Let us at least know what we are doing when we do it.