Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

We will certainly have a debate and I look forward to hearing what the Senator has to say on the matter.

Senator Coghlan asked about the infrastructure Bill and who will decide what routes will receive priority and be raised to accelerated status. I will find out about that for him.

I still have the report Senator Norris gave me. This morning another supposedly definitive report states there are no weapons of mass destruction. Some of us in this House said that over a year ago and were derided in some corners. It was, however, true and everything has come to pass as we thought. On the names the Senator passed on to me, the Minister for Defence will investigate whether people were rushed through Shannon and on to an undefined punishment and we will await the outcome of his investigation.

Senator Terry has repeatedly raised the issue of pensions and is correct to do so. During the last session we tried to arrange a debate on this but there is now a new Minister and we will ask him to come to the House and deal with pensions and the related issue of endowment mortgages.

Senator Browne supported the calls for debates on Aer Lingus and on pensions, while Senator Bannon asked about the roll out of broadband and ESB charges. Again, we hope to have the new Ministers come to the House to address these matters. I will endeavour to have them appear one by one.

Senator McHugh echoed the comments made by Senator Brian Hayes about the Garda Síochána Bill. The Morris tribunal is doing good work but it is treating the matter in isolation when it would be useful to treat it as part of the whole. Senator Maurice Hayes also commented on the Garda Síochána Bill. The Senator's presence is of value because he is always able to offer a slant from another jurisdiction, where such a law brought greater transparency to the arena. He also commented on the drugs debate.

I thank Senator Mansergh for his fine contribution. He stated correctly that State ownership is not a limbo. Routes are important and a debate on them has begun, particularly about Shannon Airport. I caught some of Mr. Walsh's contribution yesterday in which questions were raised about whether Shannon Airport is properly served by Aer Lingus. As an island, routes are vital so we should debate the matter.

Senator Cox called for the issues of speech therapy and disabilities to be examined and Senator Feighan raised the matter of drugs. He is passionate about this subject and we hope to have a debate on it in two weeks time.