Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The money to close the gap has not been forthcoming, but I hope the matter will be settled.

Senator Ryan referred to the figure of 655,000 people found in the data from the Johns Hopkins University, which everyone recognises. The war in Iraq is an obscenity in terms of human life lost, nature and the world, but people keep excusing it. I cannot understand how Prime Minister Tony Blair can enjoy himself in light of such carry on.

Senator Ryan also raised the matter of our pension funds being invested in the armaments industry. That investment would be wrong because it would encourage further investment.

Senator Ormonde preferred an overhaul of the third level grants system in the course of which the SSIA issue could be examined. While worthy, it is a long-term project. I agree the SSIA issue must be re-examined.

I am sorry that Newcastle West has not experienced a more satisfactory resolution to the decentralisation issue, but there are a number of good stories. Senator Scanlan spoke about Tubbercurry's success and Senator Moylan, the Government Whip, told the House about 165 people decentralising to the Department of Finance in Tullamore and settling down in what has been a good operation. While there are minuses, there are also pluses.