Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Yes. He asked for a debate on the administration and delivery of health services.

Senator O'Toole discussed the need for management of change in the second-level school curriculum. He pointed this out with regard to how the higher-level maths papers have gone in the leaving certificate exams. The Senator correctly stated that the Minister will advise that the State Examinations Commission will decide on the issue, but he nevertheless felt it should be more hands-on, and that this kind of curriculum change is not being managed. A curriculum change in any subject is significant for any school.

The Senator commented on the Longford and Westmeath bog fire. In Laois-Offaly a fire officer is specifically appointed to monitor bogs. There was a strong wind paired with the significant heat last Thursday and Friday, which fanned the fire in question. I take the Senator's point. The incident was highlighted well, and Ciarán Mullooly reported each evening on it. That is not the point. It is a significant rural issue. Many people in Dublin do not know what a bog is, let alone speak of a fire on it.

Senator O'Meara spoke of the delivery of hospital services as we are to be told today of what will happen in the north-east region of the HSE. If we want change and better services, the country will have to be divided and examined. The Senator wants the issue out in the open, which is an admirable suggestion.

The Senator asked when the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will bring forward his ideas on a press council. He may have been ready to run with the idea but for other matters intruding. With regard to the regulation of crèches, I have spoken to the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and he stated he would like to come before the Seanad to speak on the matter. I will raise the matter with him again.

Senator Ó Murchú praised the role of the Christian Brothers and indicated that we should mark it in some way. Senator Finucane mentioned the document on energy. We all received it and it looks like a very impressive document. The Senator stated that the appropriate Minister should be invited in to debate the detail of the report.

Senator Maurice Hayes mentioned that communities had reached agreement on the contentious Orange march in Belfast. That is ground-breaking in itself, and it is a welcome sign.

Senator Norris brought up the issue of legislation on the safety of sailing boats, and ministerial orders arising from legislation waiting to be signed. This raises a much bigger question. Much legislation depends on Ministers signing statutory orders. They are often in the Oireachtas Library having been signed. The Senator indicated such orders are not signed and are urgent.

Senator Mooney mentioned a debate on the BMW region. We had such a debate two weeks ago with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen. The Senator would have been busy with his European duties. We commented on the western rail corridor yesterday, with the issue raised by Senator Kitt. We discussed how the so-called smart media are trying to run down the whole concept, as if the trains would stop at Athlone and that would be the end of the journey west. I have previously stated that when we went into Government in 1987, there was much pressure from the Department of Finance for cuts to be made. One of the cuts suggested was that all trains going west would terminate in Athlone. I was delighted to be there. I wondered whether they would stop in the middle of the Shannon or cross it. As one can imagine, that proposal got nowhere.