John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Although the determination has been made, everybody wants the ball back to play the game again. The best course is to build the facility and ensure the patients are looked after in the best possible way and receive the best care, which they will get in a national centre of excellence. A point was made on what is best for the patients and for paediatrics, and that is the overriding consideration.

The St. Andrew's agreement was raised by Senators Brian Hayes, O'Toole, Ó Murchú, Maurice Hayes, Coghlan and Quinn. We should stand back. I agree with Senator O'Toole that it is up to the parties to sort out their futures. Hopefully they will be given the time and space to do that. The first deadline is 10 November and the second is the 24 November. We should wait until the first, and possibly the second, deadline has passed before we debate the matter in detail. I agree with the remarks on the Taoiseach, the British Prime Minister and everybody associated with what was done at St. Andrew's. It was fruitful, and a major step forward. Hopefully the nuances can now be sorted and the glitch, as the Secretary of State described it, can be overcome and we can come to a lasting settlement involving devolved government and an executive in Northern Ireland.

I have nothing to say on the assassination of Mr. Brian Fitzgerald other than that I agree with Senator O'Toole's remarks on the Garda. Senator O'Toole also raised the matter of e-voting while Senators Michael Kitt, Bannon, Ormonde and Lydon raised the related matter of the electoral register. While I am an e-voting enthusiast, I accept the need for a paper trail. People must have confidence in the system and this is the only way they can. The hardware is fine; it is a question of finding the suitable software and backup. I hope e-voting is introduced because it is a step in the right direction. It is curious that Ireland, one of the largest software exporters in the world and a leader in this area, does not have electronic voting.

The register of electors is a more serious concern than the voting method. In my county the council recently circulated a letter saying just over 20% had responded to the house-to-house invitations to be put on the register and that people would drop off the register. That is serious. There is an onus on the State and the local authorities to ensure the register is up to date and that as many people as want to vote can do so and will not be impeded.

The matter of penalty points was raised by Senators Ryan, Finucane, Maurice Hayes and Quinn. I accept Senator Ryan's point about the numbers without insurance. However, we are all subject to the law and if there is a loophole in road traffic legislation, that loophole will be found. Identification is an important matter and one cannot go after people willy-nilly if they are not properly identified.

The point about both sides of the Border is important. When southern drivers go to the North and Northern drivers go south of the Border they appear to ignore the rules of the road in those jurisdictions. Perhaps when the Executive and the Assembly are up and running and there is more co-ordination between North and South, this matter can be dealt with effectively.

With regard to accident blackspots, I believe that is being dealt with. My local authority received money over several years from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to deal with accident blackspots. I do not know if that is still the case but it certainly was until a few years ago. The Garda is on record as saying that it is not a matter of revenue, regardless of what the man from America said. I accept what the Garda says.