Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Jim Walsh raised labour law competitiveness and the need for independent regulation of members of the legal profession, a matter on which I fully agree with him.

Senator MacSharry made a powerful intervention on the issue of immigrants living here, without whom a great deal of work would not be done. It is simply not sufficient to welcome them without providing for their needs, as it has created a major gap. The Senator also raised the spectre of ongoing events in Paris and elsewhere in France, which is experiencing serious problems night after night. The French take pride in the concepts of liberté, egalitéand fraternité, yet the country's immigrants are bunched up in out-of-town apartment blocks. The House should have a debate on this matter.

I have no idea what issue Senator Ulick Burke was referring to and I cannot imagine that any Taoiseach would issue an edict requiring that land be sold in Tuam or elsewhere. The person from whom this story emanated may be an overly ambitious Progressive Democrats hopeful who may have lost the run of himself or herself. I know nothing about it, and I do not propose to go blundering through various offices to find out who said what. I am not a private detective. However, I suggest that an Adjournment matter, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach proposed, might be a good vehicle through which to address the matter. Senator Ulick Burke raised the issue of smaller classes and proposed that the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, attend the House to tell us when that commitment will be realised.

Senator John Paul Phelan agreed with Senator Brian Hayes and others regarding the Shot at Dawn Campaign. He also referred to the World Trade Organisation and Commissioner Mandelson. Many of us have spoken of him, and there is no doubt that he is a loose cannon who simply wants his own way, particularly in that campaign. The Senator also said that we should review the reports on cleanliness and road safety. One cannot condemn any Minister or Minister of State who gets his or her photograph taken. The Opposition was great at it.