Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes also raised the relevant matter of house prices. He stated middle-income earners who must live in London city for the sake of their jobs receive a special allowance to help them to afford a mortgage. I do not know if that is being considered in Ireland. All the Senators have sought a debate on housing and we will endeavour to have one.

Senator O'Toole was amazed at how we do not seem to understand how the free market works and stressed that if one opts for privatisation, issues such as that concerning Smart Telecom, which was mentioned yesterday and which continues to feature, will arise. He was correct. I heard Isolde Goggin, the telecommunications regulator, on the radio this morning and noted that she was trying to broker an arrangement. However, the companies in question operate in a free market and in free markets people pay their commercial bills. One must and that is one of the issues. The Senator also raised the matter of housing, and we must therefore have a debate on it.

It is very interesting that Babcock & Brown, on which great odium is being heaped, has a very worthy and ethical person as its lobbyist, Mr. Alan Dukes. He is a very good person.