Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Mansergh spoke strongly about the issue of subsidisation. If Brittany Ferries are subsidised, two roads are open to us. We can either take their case to the European Court of Justice or be subsidised ourselves.

With regard to the Northern Ireland talks, Senator Feighan said people are tired of choreography and that the parties concerned should hurry up and get on with it. I had a few words earlier with the Senator on the matter.

Senator Hanafin has consistently asked for a debate on An Post. He was the first to raise the issue in this House. He also called for a debate on Northern Ireland, and remembered details of medieval history. GK Chesterton wrote that the Irish "...for all their wars are merry and all their songs are sad."

Senator Quinn called for restraint with regard to Northern Ireland. He referred to the "joke" about the death of the Pope. Anybody who would engage in such behaviour must be sick.