Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Finucane, the acting leader of Fine Gael, raised the serious matter of housing. All of us who conduct public business at weekends will know it remains, and has always been, the biggest issue affecting people. I now notice parents becoming very much involved. Parents come to us about their son or daughter who needs a house. They are very willing to put money down or to help financially. Some parents are remortgaging their own houses so that their child will get a start in life. It is a very serious issue. Senator Kitt said it is down to local authorities how they implement social and affordable housing schemes. County Westmeath has a very good record of social and affordable housing and it has been taken up most enthusiastically by builders and by people who need completed houses. We would benefit from a debate on the provision of housing. It is a serious matter, which Senator Finucane was right to raise.

Senator O'Toole spoke about school buses which Senator Ulick Burke raised comprehensively yesterday. There is nothing, however, to stop anybody else raising it the next day. We have asked that the issue be discussed, so we will see when that happens. Senator O'Toole said he was glad the rail strike is over and the mediator is back at work. The mediator has always been an extremely useful person and I used him on many occasions for that same purpose. Senator O'Toole asked if the Minister for Defence could provide more space and staff to the military history bureau.

Senator Tuffy echoed the calls for a debate on housing but also asked what had happened the recommendations of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution. Those recommendations went to the Taoiseach and I suppose they will emerge in due course. She also raised the important issue of the rights of children to have access to both parents.

For some time Senator Henry has asked that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs come to the House. He will be here next week to give a statement on his plans regarding lone parents. We will ask that he include in his statement the rights of children to have access to both parents. The Minister is very keen to come to the House because he has developed his thoughts which are reforming and informative and I am sure the debate will be such.

Senator Glynn spoke about people walking on the boardwalk along the River Liffey being jeered by people who had taken drugs. That is reprehensible behaviour. He also asked about the Medical Practitioners Bill which will be introduced later in the year and not in this session. Senator Terry spoke about "Prime Time", by which I was very struck, and whether alcohol affects the baby in the womb. Even Dr. Peter Boylan was not sure and he expressed some ambiguity. We need some certainty about it and the Senator called for a debate. She spoke about children with a propensity for attention deficit disorder as a result.

Senator Mansergh thanked the CIE mediator and said he is glad he is back at work. We are all glad about that and that the cloud has been lifted. The Senator noted the towns to which Departments and offices are to be decentralised have average house prices which is good to hear. Senator Quinn said that from today, an informative disc on how to use the Internet will be provided to every home in Northern Ireland. That is an excellent point. I do not know how the Senator manages to pick up these nuggets but he is great at producing them.

Senator Kitt said it was up to each local authority to promote social and affordable housing. Senator Coonan called for a debate on house construction and on agriculture and the 3,700 redundant sugar beet growers. He said there should be a redundancy pension scheme for them which would free up the land for young people. Senator Dooley raised the issue of the safety of school buses, which was also raised yesterday. We are endeavouring to arrange a debate on it.

Senator O'Meara also raised the issue of school buses. She welcomed the memorandum between Ireland and the UK on sexual offenders but she is worried about potential sexual offenders or people likely to be a threat in that regard. Senator Browne yesterday asked that the vetting powers of the Garda be increased and accelerated.

Senator Jim Walsh spoke about wind energy. I remind Members that there will be a debate for two hours tonight on energy policy. I look forward to seeing everybody who raised the topic this morning here tonight to talk about it. I hope all the Members read their clár. The debate will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., courtesy of the Independent Senators.

Senator Coghlan raised the issues of house prices and the groceries order, asking where Eddie Hobbs's promise is.