Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Daly stated that the money has been provided for the water schemes for small villages and rural areas but that there needs to be a kick-start mechanism for it. He also raised the particular position of Shannon and the great disquiet and widespread concern about the lack of employment stability in the area, and asked if the Minister for Transport could come to the House.

Senator Ross referred to the Adelaide Hospital and a meeting today with the Taoiseach about the matter. He asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to look at this carefully because the proposals which have come forward for the new children's hospital are affecting the Adelaide Hospital in many ways.

Senator Kitt stated he was delighted with proposal regarding Éire Ireland. I am always struck by An Gort, a brief Irish translation which is not of Gort. Personally, Éire Ireland will point the way forward for changes. Senator Coghlan also raised the Housing (Stage Payments) Bill and approved of the initiative regarding Éire Ireland.

Senator Quinn stated that we should debate the Enterprise Ireland report. He also spoke of honours mathematics at leaving certificate level and the class sizes for mathematics, and stated that more teachers should be employed at that level for mathematics. He stated that if Ireland is to make its future as an IT nation, we should use more mathematics teachers. I am aware from speaking to parents that there is great disquiet about honours mathematics.

Senator Quinn cavilled at Senator Ryan for what he saw as his one-sided view of the Palestine-Israel matter. It is not that Senator Ryan is condoning the violence from Palestine to Israel but that one country is in the position of being an oppressor and the other country is the oppressed. That was Senator Ryan's point.