Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes raised the matter of the number of road deaths over the past weekend and wants a full audit of the national road safety strategy. We were all shocked at the loss of so much potential in such a short period. We will seek a full debate on road safety and strategy. The Senator also raised the matter of salmon policy and the reform sought by Senator Dardis. He wants the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources with responsibility for fisheries, Deputy Gallagher, to come to the House to discuss the policy. We would be delighted to arrange that.

Senator O'Toole welcomed Senator Dardis's statement. He also welcomed the OECD report. He would like to be appointed for life, as would we all.

Senator Ryan spoke about the Donegal accidents and the lack of governors in large trucks, which seem constantly to travel over the speed limit. It seems foolish that the governors can be disabled by removing a fuse. He also raised the matter of airline manifests. I intend to put forward an Adjournment matter, which will hopefully be taken on Thursday, which will seek this information, because I cannot seem to get it otherwise. The Senator also commented on the reported chaos in the ambulance system in Dublin.

Senator Dardis welcomed the joint committee report on salmon stocks and agrees it is a complex area. Senator Finucane is a member of the committee and agrees on the need for debate. Senator Leyden wants a debate on the inadequacy of the free fuel allowance for the elderly in the light of the current price of fuel. I admire his humanitarian nature.

Senator Quinn talked about swapping of personnel between the Garda and the PSNI. He suggested swapping knowledge and strategies and the establishment of an all-Ireland penalty points strategy to improve road safety. Senator MacSharry wants a debate on the committee report on salmon drift netting and angling, of which committee he was a member. He also seeks a debate on road safety strategies.

Senator Coghlan is concerned about the threat to oak trees in Killarney National Park by the aggressive plant disease known as sudden oak death. Senator Hanafin wants a debate on poverty prior to the budget.

Senator Norris agrees with the call for a debate on the salmon strategy. I did not quite get what he had to say about computer technology because somebody was laughing. I agree with him that it is a scandal that solicitors are taking up to €20,000 from compensation payments made by the Residential Institutions Redress Board to people damaged by State institutions. I heard a solicitor say on the radio yesterday that any such solicitor would be struck off the roll.