Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I appreciate Senator Brian Hayes's remarks about Seanad reform. We have managed the reform process on a cross-party basis and I hope it continues that way. I hope there will be a fine debate here today and that everybody will wish to speak. Today is the second day of the debate, but I do not know if it will continue into a third day. We will endeavour to prolong the debate because I understand that some Senators who wish to speak cannot be present today, for one reason or another.

Senator Brian Hayes also discussed today's meeting of representatives of the Government and Dr. Ian Paisley. It is quite amazing that we are debating Dr. Paisley's arrival in Dublin today in such an open, frank and welcoming manner in one of the legislative Chambers of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Given that snowballs were thrown at a previous Head of Government almost 40 years ago, today's meeting is a welcome step on a long odyssey which has involved journeys between North and South. I thank Senator Hayes for raising the matter, as others did. We should formally welcome the DUP leader and his delegation to Dublin today and wish the talks well. The historic nature of this fundamental step will become clear only with a little hindsight. We discussed yesterday the need for a debate on Northern Ireland. I hope it can be arranged within two weeks.

Many Senators called for Ministers to come to the House to discuss various issues. With the agreement of the Cathaoirleach and other Senators, I propose to have a rolling debate with the new Ministers in the House. I will endeavour to arrange for a Minister to come to the House each week to lay out his or her stall. It would be good for Ministers to have to read themselves into their briefs precisely and quickly and to outline their priorities for the next two or three years. Such debates would give Ministers a platform, lead to good discussions and give Ministers a clear thrust as they go about their duties. I will endeavour to arrange such debates, but I do not know if they can start next week because the business for then has almost been formulated. I will start today to make moves to arrange the debates. I think they would be useful for the House, the Ministers and the country.

I share Senator O'Toole's thoughts on disability, which I have discussed with the Deputy Leader, Senator Dardis. The Government has a significant disability agenda, involving the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004 and the Disability Bill 2004. The Seanad reform report recommends that the House should meet all the interested parties here — I do not know if that could be cleared — or in another room as part of a formal consultative process. I know the interested parties were formally consulted before the Bill was formulated, but the Seanad reform sub-committee heard that people would also like to engage in a consultative process about legislation before it is discussed by Senators. Perhaps such a discussion could become combative — I do not know — but Senator O'Toole's idea is a fine one and we will endeavour to see how we can proceed with it. Such a process would be suited to the Bills in question.

Regarding a debate on public private partnerships, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, and perhaps the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, or the new Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, would be very interested in having one here. Perhaps it would be a good topic for Private Members' business, but that is a matter for other parties; we have had ours.

Senator O'Toole referred to someone whose name I will not say, but we know whom he meant and the CEO of Aer Rianta. In the debate in this House, I spoke very strongly, saying that I could not understand the punitive nature of a clause in that Bill which specifically marked her out for demolition. I had never seen the like in any Bill or legislation before, despite my long experience. I had never seen such a determined, pointed assault on a specific position or person. I will endeavour to find out what the situation is, but yesterday I got the records and looked at what I said. I see that Senator Daly remembers it too. It was most remarkable. She is a very fine woman.

I thank Senator O'Meara for the Labour Party's warm welcome to Dr. Paisley and for raising the historic nature of what is happening. I will ask my friend and colleague, Senator Dardis, to exert some of his considerable influence over the Tánaiste so that she might be our first guest in the House in this roll-out of policies and public submissions on health policy. Senator Dardis requested a debate on Northern Ireland issues, including Dr. Paisley's visit. There was also the matter of the new Cabinet. In particular, the Senator spoke of Commissioner McCreevy and former Minister, Deputy Joe Walsh, with whom I know he has very strong lines of communication.

Today is Senator Bannon's day as we will have the new gardaí about whom he has spoken here and for whom he has toiled. The extra gardaí will be brought into play on a rolling basis. The Senator also spoke about crime and the health services.

Senator Brady called for what would be a very useful mid-term debate on the drugs strategy. The Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, is seeking submissions, and we in this House could provide one. Senator Coghlan raised the powers of the Ombudsman. I do not know if she is seeking to have her powers extended, but I will endeavour to find out for him.

Senator Mansergh mentioned the peace process and the fact that we now have our first woman Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan. It is quite startling. In Northern Ireland, there was also a very fine woman Minister. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, will be excellent in her position. When Senator O'Meara spoke, she said that there was considerable alarm, fear and trembling among health practitioners and so on regarding the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. Senator Mansergh spoke about the IHC. I know from the 12 weeks in which I was in the Department of Health and Children as Minister that trepidation would be very good for them; I would prescribe it in large doses.