Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I will not name the person in question. It would be good for us all to have that debate. I hope we recognise that the President has a much broader agenda than what was detailed in the column which suggested that she was entering into a narrow focused debate.

Senator Brian Hayes also referred to the Shot at Dawn Campaign. Over the Christmas period, there was a vivid documentary on this, which was so harrowing. Some of these people were very young, one being just 13 years of age. They were not asked for birth certificates. Whatever age one gave was accepted. These young people were expected to behave like men, even though many of them were just young teenagers. They were shot while others were let go.

Senator Mooney also raised this matter about which he spoke to me at length last night. There is no doubt the files should be released. The British probably want to keep alive the romanticism or heroism of these people. Everyone who fights in wars is a hero, even though they may come to it from different viewpoints. The British want to keep this sense of romanticism about the First World War. They are very good at commemorating their wars. We see the great pomp, decoration and medals each year and the way they keep these events alive. I hope we can pierce through that and have a good debate on the matter. I agree with Senator O'Toole that it is a process of maturation for us all and we should openly discuss the matter.

I would say to Senator Ryan that one cannot debate 1916 through the lens of today because it is a different time, a different place and there are different actors. There was a romantic view of war until the truth was made known. The poets who wrote so fetchingly of that period kept this view alive. Poetry anthologies and so on contain beautiful words, which I am sure were penned with a great sense of heroism.

The Senator referred to fair trade in clothes and the fact that we are not aware from where our clothes are coming. As the Senator said, there is a campaign which asks people if they know from where their shirts come. We will endeavour to get the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to come into the House to discuss this matter.

Senator Ryan also referred to the need for a partnership debate. A social partnership debate is scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon. The Chief Whip, and Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, will take the debate and I hope a full congregation of Senators will be present.

The holding of the Ryder Cup was raised. I do not watch or play golf but people I know who do, and I do not believe they drink champagne, are looking forward to seeing it.

Senator Dardis referred to the sacrifice made during war and the 1916 Rising. The President, notwithstanding her personal views, would have all our loyalty and confidence. Lest this would have escaped in the milieu of yesterday, I wish to point out that from my point of view and that of my party, the President would have our confidence and loyalty and, I am sure, the confidence and loyalty of this House as a legislative Assembly. Senator Dardis also spoke of the Ryder Cup.

Senator Finucane again called for a debate on energy. Such a debate would be useful. I cannot remember our debating energy in this House previously, apart from our own energy or lack of it. We should have a debate on that matter. The Senator referred to Deloitte & Touche which seems to be involved in everything. Senator Dardis referred to leaks from its report which is not available. We will ask the Minister if he can attend a debate on energy.

Senator Mooney referred to the country of origin issue. He also referred to the Shot at Dawn Campaign, which he and Senator Brian Hayes raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, presumably when they attended the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body. He spoke of a newspaper article on soldiers shot at dawn which appeared in an issue published on the first Sunday in August. I cannot remember but Senator Norris said it was he who raised that issue in this House.

Senator Norris also raised the issue of cystic fibrosis and the disparity in the longevity of those who suffer from it here and in the North. There must be some reason for that.

Senator Mansergh is a member of a committee of An Post that deals with stamps. We will commemorate the Battle of the Somme and other battles as well as the 1916 Rising. The debate on that has already widened. We can thank the Members of the House under the aegis of the Cathaoirleach who allowed us to have a mini debate on that issue. Even in the past 24 hours we have all moved forward quite considerably in our views on such issues. That is a good move.

Senator Mansergh told us the Soloheadbeg commemoration will endeavour to have present the relatives of at least one of constables who was shot. He also called for a spirit of mutual respect regarding the President.

Senator Ó Murchú raised the commemoration of the 1916 Rising. He referred to the spirit of everyone who goes to fight and that they go from a sense of patriotism and selflessness, all aspects of Irish nationalism. He spoke of his experience at the 1916-1921 Club and of his dear mother who wore the poppy. He saw nothing unusual in that. They are reflections that give texture to a debate. They give a viewpoint on matters. I remember when I was young in Athlone a woman sold poppies each November. We did not know what that was about and nobody told us. It was interesting to hear what the Senator had to say about it.

Senator Feighan referred to 130 people from Boyle who went to fight in the First World War for the freedom of small nations, albeit that is what we were told was the ideal for which they went to fight. When people were in the trenches I suppose small nations seemed far away.

Yesterday, Senator Jim Walsh called for a day-long debate on 1916 and I mulled over what he said last night. The proclamation was a very advanced social document for its time.

I fully agree with what Senator Quinn said about the integration of immigrants. We opened the borders, invited them in, sent out the message that we need them, love them and they could come here without much fuss. However, now that they are here, there is nobody whom they can contact. We do not want a nanny State but it would be helpful for them to have a referral point or person where they could get advice, know their rights and be looked after in general. This would be a good subject for a debate. Approximately 500,000 immigrants will come to live here over the next five years, which is a very significant figure compared with our population. This trend is proceeding in an ad hoc fashion.

Senator Hanafin spoke of the different types of imperialism which provoked the 1916 Rising and the First World War. He joined Deputy Finucane in calling for a debate on energy.

Senator Paddy Burke raised the Castlebar-Westport-Dublin railway line and, in particular, the lack of wheelchair accessibility on that line. Senator Glynn referred to the remarks on cystic fibrosis and called for a debate on the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Senator Maurice Hayes called for a debate on integration, which is the issue facing immigrants we have welcomed here. We do not want them to be here as a specialist group but to be integrated. Such a debate would be useful. The Senator also referred to the disparity in longevity of sufferers of cystic fibrosis North and South.

Senator Scanlon referred to the Dublin to Sligo railway line. He mentioned the difference between the old carriages which everybody despised and the new carriages which are not quite everybody's dream, as they do not allow for free passage of the tea trolley or access for people with disabilities. I take on board the Senator's point and we will endeavour to work that matter into a debate on transport.