John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I join with other Senators who have expressed concern about the announcement yesterday on the sugar reforms. I support Senator Dardis's appeal to the Leader for a short debate next week on this issue, and perhaps on agriculture in general.

I also join with Senators who have expressed dismay at the interpretation the Revenue Commissioners appear to have put on legislation passed by the House which exempted first-time buyers from stamp duty if the property they were buying was under a certain value. We should invite the Minister for Finance to the House for a debate on this matter which would allow us to express our views on this important subject which could then be conveyed to the Revenue Commissioners.

I wish to ask the Leader about the status of the primary school medical examination. When I was in primary school, which is not that long ago, there was a medical examination.