Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Ross pointed out that we debated social partnership in this House and, except for himself, all voted for it. He is aghast at the strike at Dublin Airport.

We are all aghast at it but, as Senators Mansergh and Daly said, we recognise that the workers have concerns which have not been addressed. If one is sitting in a comfortable leather armchair, it is all very well to rant about these issues, but it is a different matter for workers who have to explain to their partners and children that they do not know if they will have a job or, if they will have one, the terms on which they will have it.

Senators Glynn and Finucane called for a debate on orthodontics in the autumn.

Senator Bannon asked that if the Barron report is published, the Seanad would resume to debate it. He also raised the matter of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill. Does he realise that Bill was introduced and debated in the Seanad first? The Bill then went to the Dáil. We will only discuss the amendments made to the Bill in the Dáil today, that is the purpose of the debate on it today. We debated that Seanad Bill, for which considerable time was allocated.