Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I offer congratulations to the newly elected members of the local authorities and to the newly elected MEPs. It is important that we recognise their potential contribution. I also offer my condolences in respect of the number of single transferable votes that evaporated from my colleagues on the other side and suggest that it might perhaps encourage Members on the Government side to take a new look at the proposals in the recent report on Seanad reform and show a new interest in, for example, the list system and various other forms of election. It would add a certain level of information to how they should be informed.

I support what Senator Brian Hayes said about our Leader's position in Government. Perhaps she is currently more needed in Westmeath than in Government. Westmeath sadly lacked her calming and supportive influence over the past week or two.

On the more serious Curtin issue, the committee appointed to deal with the matter is meeting today. We can only wish it well in what I believe to be an impossible task. I have communicated with the Leader on a number of occasions about this and she has been extraordinarily helpful. However, the Government should seriously consider negotiating an outcome or conclusion to his issue because unless negotiations are entered into, Judge Curtin will still be a judge long after this Government has gone. In terms of costs, taxpayers' money will evaporate on a mission impossible. We should be realistic about it. The Government has a clear objective which it can achieve in ways other than the way it is going about it.