Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I wish to add my voice to that of Senator Ormonde. She did a great job yesterday in arguing the case regarding European day, 10 May. There was a danger, which I believe has now passed, that this House would have been excluded. There is a great need to sell the benefits of Europe. Too often we hear criticism of Europe while we do not hear the benefits. European day will give us an opportunity to do so. I congratulate Senator Ormonde on the strength with which she expressed that yesterday.

Last week we congratulated the Minister for Education and Science on investment in science and technology. If science, particularly technology, is to advance it must show its use to customers. This Government does not appear to use the technology available to it from throughout the world. I will give three examples of such technology. Cameras are now available to identify and read number plates of cars. This is a major advance in the area of crime and stolen cars. I have seen these cameras working. They are used elsewhere to deal with speeding and are capable of being used to identify cars starting a journey which can be caught at the end of that journey. This technology has not been used. The Government should invest in it.

I saw on television a measure in Britain on which the first court cases were heard this week. Police there regularly carry a camera called a "head camera". An amount of behaviour changes when people see the police have these head cameras. It is extremely modern technology which has just been introduced and I believe it can now be used as evidence in court in Britain. We have spoken about electronic tagging for years but have not introduced it. It is a marvellous way of reducing the number of people in prison. They can go about their lives and yet be under control. This Government should identify modern technology capable of being used to benefit the community.