John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Senator Daly referred to the open skies agreement. I will invite the Minister for Transport to the Seanad to discuss the issue.

Senator Norris referred to the requirements regarding passenger information. I am uncomfortable about that as well. It was pointed out this morning that a certain state was able to intervene to stop some flights on the basis of something that cropped up on a computer. The situation can get out of hand and there are civil liberty issues involved but we have debated the matter. There must be some level of security and, given the American experience on 11 September 2001, some of what has happened is understandable. Nevertheless, there is an issue in that area.

It is wrong to state that a multinational enlisted the help of the Garda. That did not happen. The Garda is responsible for maintaining the law, ensuring that there is peaceable protest and that people can go to work. That is why the gardaí are at that location. It is not at the behest of the multinational.

Senator Norris is right about committees. I have no control over whether people attend a committee meeting or come to the Seanad but the committees should facilitate the House. Senator Ó Murchú raised the matter of Irish placenames. I will see if we can arrange something on that matter.

Senator O'Meara and Senator Maurice Hayes referred to the privacy Bill. Senator O'Meara made the important point that while the provisions of the Bill might be of concern to the media, they might not be of concern to us. There is an important distinction. I accept that the matter should be teased out and the way to do it is on Second Stage, when the principle of the Bill is discussed. The Minister has always shown that he is amenable to accepting ideas on Second Stage and including them in a Bill. However, I will see if there can be consultations with him prior to that.

Senator Coghlan referred to the chairman of An Bord Pleanála and high rise buildings. That is a matter to be decided by each local authority in its development plan. Hopefully, the board will fall into line with those development plans but, as matters currently stand, it can disregard them, which is a curious situation. It is a matter that should be debated.

Senator Morrissey referred to the National Consumer Agency report and management companies. It is an important issue to which we should return. We discussed it previously with regard to housing estates. It is one thing to have such management companies for apartment blocks but it is another matter to have them for housing estates.

Senator Kitt referred to the register of electors, which I dealt with earlier. Senator Bannon gave his single transferable speech on the farmers. It seems to be the same speech he gives on the medical service, transport and everything else.

Everybody wants the children's hospital to be moved provided it is moved to their constituency. Perhaps the middle of the Bog of Allen is as good a place as any for the hospital but it has been decided to locate it at the Mater Hospital and I believe that is a good location for it.

I agree we should have a debate on agriculture. However, it is important to know the statistics rather than what the IFA says. Farm incomes rose significantly during the past 12 months; that is statistically correct.

The related matter of biofuels was raised by Senator Hanafin. It is part of the IFA budget proposals to provide some assistance for biofuels. They definitely require assistance if they are to be economical. Farmers will not grow these crops if they are not profitable. It is something we should discuss.

The issue of Sudan, although not strictly relevant, could be raised in the debate on the Middle East. Senator Browne raised the issue of stamp duty. The Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats did not say stamp duty would be changed in the forthcoming budget but that it would be renegotiated when the Progressive Democrats go back into Government——