Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

I thank all the Senators for their contributions. In the main, they were positive, though there was at least one exception. Senator John Paul Phelan referred to the tax bill, an issue taken up by Senator Mansergh. The fact that we have the lowest unemployment rate in Europe and that wages have almost doubled contributes to the extremely substantial tax take we now enjoy. Despite the massive sums spent on health, the Senator also made much of the extra expenditure on administrative staff in the Department of Health and Children. I concede that it may be an issue. However, there are 1,800 extra medical and dental staff, 6,400 extra nurses and 555 extra consultants, as well as substantially increased numbers of occupational and speech therapists. Therefore, it is an unfair slight, although there is a great deal more to do on health.

The Senator mentioned the facilities regarding the promised extra 2,000 gardaí. Over Christmas he may have missed the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, visiting Templemore, where he turned the sod on the new training facility. The OPW is a long way towards acquiring temporary accommodation for the in-service training of gardaí and the plan for the extra 2,000 officers is in train and will begin to manifest itself very soon.

The Kilkenny flood scheme and the famous fish have arisen several times. I believe that it was Senator McDowell who said that one swallow never made a summer. One or two dead fish do not really make a bad flood relief scheme either. I accept, as Senator Coghlan said, that there were some deficits in the fish pass at Lacken Weir. I was there yesterday, having taken a keen interest in the topic. I met many people who said that the problem was grossly exaggerated, although not all the fish got up through the pass. It has recently been modified and the vast bulk——