Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Mansergh stated that the gender imbalance in public appointments is beginning to thaw. Although I will not mention her name because it would not be correct to do so, we wish the new appointee to the post of Secretary General at the Department of Education and Science the best of good luck.

The Senator also sought a debate on immigrant labour laws. This matter was raised before Christmas at the time when a book worth debating was published by a group here. I will seek that debate.

Senator Bannon asked that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, come into the House to debate the privacy issue, and that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, come in to debate the price of gas and electricity. Senator Morrissey called for a debate on tolling and the inappropriate siting of toll plazas on a particular road. Such a debate would be welcome. We have a toll expert here, Senator Ross.