Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Senator is kind to say so.

Senator Ulick Burke mentioned the pilot schemes, the public private partnerships and the Minister responsible for energy. There is a need for a debate on that matter. The issue of access to the grid does not seem to have developed at all and there is no more freedom. Senator Hanafin mentioned international terrorism. The mind goes off an issue very quickly. We were all horrified at that awful event in Beslan. Imagine children of that age suffering in that way. The Senator is seeking a debate on international terrorism and we will endeavour to arrange it.

Senator Feighan raised tourism numbers. Every hotel, guesthouse, shop and facility is saying that its visitor numbers are down, yet we keep reading that they are up. I am indebted to Senator Mansergh for pointing out that the CSO collects tourism figures, so they should be objective. However, a different methodology may be used. Does everyone on a Ryanair or Aer Lingus flight constitute a tourist, although they may only have been shopping in London or have attended a match? The Minister does not need to read himself into this brief, as he is already immersed. We will endeavour to get him as quickly as possible. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.

Senator Glynn spoke about alternative medicine. There is both proper and pseudo-alternative medicine. The people to whom he refers and the type of medicine they are parading are preying on people when they are extremely low and would grasp at any straw for comfort.

Senator McCarthy welcomed the new Ministers and Ministers of State. The former Minister, Deputy Joe Walsh, comes from the Senator's area, and he has long collaborated with him. Advertising standards are loose rather than precise in their application. The latter is necessary to counter the torment of the advertising referred to by Senator McCarthy and others.

Senator Dooley welcomed the new Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and had great praise for his predecessor. He would like the Minister to come here to discuss the rail strategy, the western rail corridor, the Shannon rail spur and various issues which affect the mid-west. Senator Daly also mentioned tourism policy, very generously paying tribute to his two colleagues, the two Clare Ministers.