Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Ross also seeks a debate on the Government's response to the OECD report on higher education. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, was here on 16 February and again on 22 March to discuss the report. I accept this was prior to the issuing of this statement. When the Minister came here she stayed for the length of the debate.

With regard to the idea she has put forward for an innovation fund for which the universities will bid, I hope, taking up Senator Ulick Burke's point, the humanities and the arts are not put to one side. I firmly believe that we cannot measure education input or output according to how institutions bid for money. The arts, humanities and associated disciplines should be predominant in all institutions. However, the innovation fund is a long time coming. The Provost of Trinity College, which nominates the Senator, has made great strides in the face of a great deal of opposition to changes to disciplines and mergers of schools and so on. Perhaps he knew this was coming. If an institution demonstrates it has done such work, it can bang the door louder on the ground of innovation. A balance must be maintained in the debate because university education should have general education as its basis, above all else, before one branches off into a particular sphere.

Senator Leyden called on the Minister for Finance to come to the House for a debate on the price of oil. He is on his hobby horse again about prices.

Senator Tuffy referred to the Minister for Education and Science's plans to link funding of third level institutions to performance and their impact on students and I would share her views on that issue. She also raised the health survey, binge drinking and café bars. The issue of café bars is being raised as if it is a new idea. However, we had a long debate on the issue when the intoxicating liquor legislation was before the House. I disagree with the eminent member of the task force who stated more drink outlets are not suitable.

As Senator Coghlan said, tea, coffee and food are available in most public houses. However, café bars involve a different approach to drinking. They will have a different ambience and it will not be case of people drinking pint after pint after pint. It is a more muted way of approaching our favourite pastime and that will be for the better. Café bars sound ideal. Somebody said they are not suitable for Ireland but I do not know why not. One does not have to sit outside and I agree that might not be suitable given our climate. However, the idea behind it is good. When men, in particular, enter bars, they tend to adopt the approach of, "My goodness, how many pints can I have before I have to leave this premises?" whereas one could have a glass of wine, a cup of coffee and a meaningful conversation in a café bar. Would it not be wonderful to have meaningful conversation?

Senator Glynn raised the issue of suicide. I took on board the comments of the County Offaly coroner yesterday and we will seek to have a debate on this issue. The Senator also sought a debate on the spiking of drinks but I do not know how we could debate that issue.