Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I thank the Leader and her office for giving more time to the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill. Members on every side are delighted that it can be debated next week. I recognise the flexible approach which the Leader showed in dealing with it. All Members believe that due to the urgency of the matter the legislation's provisions should be in operation for the start of the next school year.

However, the same urgency is not afforded to the State Airports Bill. I am amazed at the push in the Lower House to get this through on Committee Stage. The Seanad will be sitting late on each night next week and I have no doubt that someone will have a bright idea of rush the State Airports Bill through the House then. Apart from the philosophical debates on this issue, there are many different views on it. Members from the other side of the House share some of the views of Members on this side. There are issues to which we all attach importance and on which we would like to articulate views. I am utterly opposed and will not offer co-operation to this legislation being rammed through next week if there is someone somewhere who feels the business can be rushed through the Dáil and then simply processed in this House without an opportunity to discuss it. I would like to be reassured on this matter. This Bill also involves legal issues, which have not been looked at closely. The Bill was quickly cobbled together and there are possible consequences, which have not been considered. I would like those dealt with and a legal response given.

I disagree in part with the views of Senator Brian Hayes regarding electronic voting. While I agree with his views on such voting outside the House, and that there are difficulties within the House which must be dealt with by means of a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, we should not suspend the system. It is a very transparent system of voting even when it goes wrong. When that happens we see it immediately and can deal with it immediately. It carries out the functions which we wanted the electronic voting for elections to do, namely to recognise and correct errors. We can do that in this House and the system is a good example of how we can marry the traditional and modern. We should not simply dump the system now, but we should be reassured in terms of how it works.