John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I do not know how the Garda can trace people who have done something wrong short of stopping them at the time. This may be deliberate. This is a question of implementation and enforcement of the law, which is a matter we can bring to the attention of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

On driving tests, failure rates and the relative success of men and women, I had thought mischievously that the higher failure rate among women might indicate they are better drivers but it would be wrong to suggest that one would be a better driver on the road after failing one's test.

The newly elected Pope was referred to by Senator Hanafin and was also discussed on yesterday's Order of Business. I wish His Holiness well in his onerous responsibilities. We were encouraged by some of his remarks when he spoke during a morning mass yesterday, 20 April. Senator Hanafin has also consistently raised the matter of the regulator's role in telephone charges and we should debate it more fully in the House.

Senator Norris raised the issue of security checks at Dublin Airport. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, dealt with this matter in this House on 20 April when he said: "I wish to state categorically that no explosives, detonators, guns or live ammunition were used during those tests. Media speculation that such items were used is totally unfounded." There is a degree of scaremongering about this but one should not condone the lapses in the security system that appear to have occurred in Dublin Airport.

Senators White, Henry, Terry and O'Meara spoke about the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights of 20 April 2005 and the comments made therein regarding the funding of crèches and nurseries. This is an important issue and must be given serious attention. Senator White called for a ten year strategy on child care. The Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science with special responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, are doing a good job in this area but it would be useful to examine whether the matter should be reallocated to another Department.

Senator O'Meara made a good point about the body of equality legislation that has come through the Houses. I recall former Deputy Mervyn Taylor when he was a Minister of State. All of the equality legislation and embedding of children's rights into Irish law came through his former Department. When debates are requested, the Minister and Minister of State have always been available to this House and are happy engage with the Members on these matters.

Senator Coonan raised the issue of the nitrates directive, which is related to Senator Brian Hayes' point. This is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and is a directive with which we must try to comply. Cross-compliance increasingly applies in the agricultural funding given to farmers. One must protect the environment if one is to receive payments from the European Union. Senator Callanan raised a similar issue. Cork County Council was the first council in the country to introduce regulations for the spreading of slurry and the application of fertilisers to land in 1990.