Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Brian Hayes, Senator Ryan and others for their comments about the Taoiseach and his remarks in the Dáil yesterday. It is important that we show solidarity on this issue and I will ensure that the comments of this House are passed to the Taoiseach and his office. They are significant and I welcome them.

I said yesterday that the scales had fallen from many people's eyes and indeed they have. At the same time the challenge remains to keep the peace process moving forward with all the participants. That is the biggest challenge facing everyone. Clearly there will be no significant movement before the general election in the UK but at the same time talks must continue. The challenge will be to make the Irish people's feelings known, as the Taoiseach has done, and ensure at the same time that talks continue.

Senator Brian Hayes also referred to the imminent publication of the Quigley report and the proliferation of public relations and media people in Leinster House. One has only to walk around the building to meet them. Like Senator Hayes I wonder what they are all doing. I do no know if their work is a great help to the Government and on that point I agree with the Senator.

Regarding Northern Ireland, Senator O'Toole rightly demanded much more significant movement, talks and activity, north, south, east and west. He though that would be greatly helpful. I thank him for his comments on the PIAB and especially for his offer that he or others in the PIAB would be available to talk to Members and reassure them. That offer will be taken up.

I welcome Senator Ryan's support on behalf of the Labour Party for the Taoiseach's comments in the Dáil yesterday. I take his point regarding the definition of criminality vis-À-vis the comments made yesterday and the need for a reasoned approach to be taken to people who in terms of conduct might have been perceived to be the darlings of the media.

Members will recall that we had a light debate in this House about those advertisements urging people to surrender part of the value of their houses to various agencies. The following day I was contacted by the person behind the latest advertisement who said we did not know what we were talking about. He then sent a letter, to which I replied, saying I was keen to meet the people involved, but I heard nothing further. This is a serious matter. People are clinking glasses and perhaps someone is saying "Oh Maureen, this is how we thought we would have lots of money when we got older together", but the money is obtained by brokering one's house away to the lenders who then presumably move in and take one's house. It is serious because there are gullible people who believe the clinking of glasses in the Canaries or somewhere is wonderful. I agree with the Senator that it is seductive in the wrong way. If people have a house they should hold onto it and not be dissipating their equity.

I agree with Senator Cox's comments on waste management. The Senator called for a debate on incineration. Senator Coghlan talked about the enormous growth in PR personnel. If I may say so, Senator Coghlan is his own best PR man.