Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

A few days absence gives everybody great tongues. Senator Brian Hayes expressed his appreciation for the apology of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform for his frenzied remarks. It stands to the credit of both Members that the apology was made and graciously accepted. They both said they had not slept and neither did Deputy Rabbitte. They are all having a difficult time. The Senator also called for an independent assessment of the number and deployment of gardaí.

I was waiting for someone to make the point that there are 500,000 more people in the country and, therefore, the number of gardaí would need to expand. The deployment of gardaí is an operational matter for the Commissioner but a debate would be useful and I will seek one.

Senator Brian Hayes also said that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance should return due to what he referred to as promotional blackmail in respect of FÁS. I will ask that the Minister of State return but I doubt he will, as he was in the House during the last sitting week.

Senator O'Toole stated that decentralisation is a voluntary strategy and the number of people offering to take part has not been bad but once there is an element of compulsion, decentralisation will go off the boil. The Senator spoke about Seachtain na Gaeilge and how, while the plan was laid out in the programme for Government, we do not yet have it. He asked where it was and for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to attend the House so that we could debate the matter.

Senator O'Meara asked for a debate on Garda deployment and for the Minister for Health and Children to address the House on crèches and the management and ownership of same, which I will try to arrange.

Senator Dardis also asked for a useful debate on the Garda and suggested that we should celebrate all of Ireland's sporting achievements, which occurred in the space of one week. It was almost too much to take.

Senator Bradford, who explained he needed to attend a committee, referred to the devastation in respect of the Mallow beet factory and asked for a debate on the tillage industry. He asked that the Minister for Agriculture and Food attend the House. Senator Mansergh praised the Irish equestrian industry and explained he was honoured to be the recipient of a nomination, alongside Senator Bradford, from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association.