Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I particularly like the beginning of the anthem, "Sinne Fianna Fáil".

Senator Norris also pointed out that people are innocent until proven guilty, and I sympathise with that view. Publishing pictures of people before a trial is wrong. The Senator also seeks a debate on Iraq.

Senator Glynn requested a debate on diabetes and asked whether we had invited the Tánaiste to the House. We send a request to the Tánaiste's office every week to discuss some issue, but she has been extraordinarily busy recently. If the Senator would like to take on the job of asking her, that is fair enough. Senator Glynn also raised the matters of the register of electors and the national anthem.

Senator Browne suggested electoral registers should be on-line. Some county councils have their registers on-line, but perhaps there is not uniformity in this regard. The Senator suggested that applications to the register should also be made on-line.

Senator Browne also spoke about a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats website with information on GP-only medical cards. I do not know about that website as all I have seen are advertisements suggesting people should apply and pointing out that mortgage and child care payments and travel costs would be taken into account. Senator Minihan was in feisty form and told us that he has spoken on the matter. He said 30,000 new medical cards were provided for, but only 15,000 were applied for. He also informed us that 200,000 GP-only cards were allowed for, but only 10,000 had applied for them. We thank him for that information. It tells its own story.