Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Cathaoirleach is right, the Minister takes the trouble to come to the House.

Senator Browne wondered why Carlow, one of Ireland's tidy towns, does not get the same publicity as Ennis. Three months ago Ennis was a tidy town but three months later it is the most untidy town. It is very strange, it must have gone to their heads.

Senator Feighan said that the Department of Foreign Affairs operates double standards. I disagree, the Department tries hard to help people but I do not know if that help equates to giving people money for an operation.

Senator Coghlan also raised the Official Languages Act and the debate over Dingle and An Daingean. It is all over the country now.

Senator Bradford called for the Department of Foreign Affairs to link in with the new Irish immigration review group in the United States, which is doing very good work.