Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a debate on Northern Ireland and I agree with many of the points he, Senator O'Toole and Senator Minihan made. I referred briefly to this issue yesterday. There will be a difficulty if Britain opts for a licensing system and we opt for a pardoning procedure. This has been greatly expanded with the inclusion, as Senator Brian Hayes said, of the RUC and the British army. The Leader said yesterday the Government has taken the advice of the Attorney General. Of course, Governments should listen to the advice of the Attorney General but when the Leader was Minister, she, almost Albert Reynolds-like, did not always accept the advice offered to her. We may have to look further into this matter. In any event, as has been said, a debate is urgently required on the matter.