Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Where does that leave Mallow Hospital? It is a case of "Up Cork" again.

Senator Brian Hayes referred to the imminence of Armistice Day and the Shot at Dawn Campaign proposal. He asked if the leaders of each of the parties could meet outside the House and I am in agreement with him. He suggested we could combine our wishes in that regard and ask the motion be relayed to the British Government, which is the authority to decide on retrospective pardons. It is a very fine idea.

I am pleased to inform the House it was never intended that statements on the Ferns report would conclude tomorrow as it will be ongoing. I hope there will be many contributions to the debate. In this regard Senator O'Toole asked for more time to discuss the Ferns report.

Senator O'Toole also referred to the soldiers in the First World War who created their own ceasefire. This is a poignant incident in that period when the soldiers sang "Silent Night" in their different languages and made friends with one another. I believe the ceasefire extended from Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve and may have been spasmodic. It is very poignantly remembered in the poetry of that period.

Senator O'Toole asked whether the Blasket Islands are regarded as a national monument. The legislation was overturned. He asked that the House seek a report from the Office of Public Works.

Senator Tuffy asked for a debate on child care. I must dispute that nothing was done. In 1997 the Government inherited a very parsimonious situation with regard to child benefit but it has increased in leaps and bounds since then. I agree with the Senator that much more needs to be done regarding the provision of child care facilities. A plethora or reports, advices and position papers have been produced. It will be a case of what to choose. One could become bamboozled but I am confident they will all be taken into account.

Senator Minihan supports Senator Brian Hayes on the Shot at Dawn Campaign.

Senator Finucane raised the exploitation of a group of people who were left on an island while picking periwinkles. I agree with him that the labour inspectorate should be beefed up. It is not sufficient to take the laudable decision to open our borders to anyone from the accession countries if we do nothing to ensure they secure their labour rights.

Senator Norris referred to motion 23, tabled by the Independent Group, which proposes: "That Seanad Éireann, in the light of the Ferns Report, requests the Government to re-examine the exemption of the churches from the operations of equality legislation." It will not be possible to discuss motion 23 during the debate tomorrow because it is a formal motion. While I do not know which Minister will come before the House for the debate, he or she would have to be given guidance on the matter. Nevertheless, I see no reason the matter cannot be raised in the context of the debate.