Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Finucane raised the issue of Northern Ireland and the need for a debate. We have put that proposal forward and it is now a matter of the availability of the Taoiseach or the Minister for Foreign Affairs and of time. If we can reach agreement on it we will see if we have time for it. There is an excellent two page supplement in The Irish Times today which goes through every point of the proposed agreement and the discussion. If we are to have a debate on the issue, this would be necessary reading homework for all of us. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. We hope to have that debate.

Senator O'Toole supports Senator Finucane's call for debate. He mentioned the extraordinary manner in which the matter was handled yesterday. I was struck by that also. The two Prime Ministers stood in front of the bank of reporters and journalists with their microphones and probing questions and took the questions calmly one by one. The obvious camaraderie between the two of them was enlightening and spelled openness. It showed a significant development in the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Senator also raised the matter of the views of the Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on incineration. I heard him speak on the issue on radio. He spoke about the need for a full debate on the subject. He said that people only get the scare headlines and not the full facts. It would be useful to invite him here to discuss that matter and the Kyoto Agreement. We could also discuss appropriate structures to support builders who take environmentally friendly measures such as the use of solar panels or wind energy.

Senator Ryan commended the openness of the Northern process. He wants an open-ended debate on Northern Ireland that would continue at periodic intervals. That would be useful. The only person we do not hear from in an open way is P. O'Neill.

The Senator also wants a Government position on incineration because recent statements bear out that there will be no incineration wherever any Minister lives. Some of the proper facts on incineration have not come out. How can it be good to continue putting refuse into landfill sites? That is not the proper way to deal with the issue.

Senator Minihan felt congratulations were due all around on Northern Ireland and that no recrimination was needed. He made the salient point that nobody has a monopoly on humiliation.

Senator Coghlan supported the call for a debate on Northern Ireland. He also agreed with his Kerry colleague's recent statement on hotel prices. He would like a debate on that.