Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

That is acceptable. We should play it as it goes. We will see how the debate proceeds, who contributes and what time we have available. The Senator's general idea is fair and we could agree to that. The time allotted for contributions could not be open-ended because if everybody took half an hour to speak, we would be here for the weekend, though not that it would matter. We were keen to come here today and fulfil our legislative role.

I thank Senator Norris for his compliments about the reordering of the schedule. We were glad to be able to do so. It posed difficulties because there is a division proceeding in the Lower House at present. When we finish this brief Order of Business, I propose that we suspend until 3.30 p.m. when it is hoped — although it is a quick turnaround for the staff — that the amended Bill will be produced and we can then debate it. The amended version will be a different proposition to the original.

Senator Norris also referred to the drink culture. We hope to discuss the Road Traffic Bill next week, before it goes to the Lower House on Thursday. We will sit on Wednesday and Thursday but that will be dealt with later. The headline to which the Senator referred is alarming. To spend three times more on alcohol than others in Europe is significant.