Seanad debates

Wednesday, 1 November 2006

2:30 pm

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children or one of her Ministers of State to the House to debate the primary school medical examination. We must ensure the examination, an important preventative health measure, is used nationwide because its implementation appears haphazard.

I support Senator O'Toole's request for a debate on the recent report on global warming. We have received contradictory information on this issue from the Government, European Union and other sources.

I agree with Senator Brian Hayes on the issue of fireworks. I, too, travelled to Dublin via the Naas Road yesterday evening and saw the night sky lit up. If community groups want to come together to organise controlled firework displays, they should be encouraged to do so.

I am pleased to read in today's newspapers that the Minister for Education and Science is considering changing the structure of Irish on the leaving certificate curriculum. I am glad the debate generated by Fine Gael's policy position on this issue appears to be having an impact on Government thinking on the Irish language. We cannot continue to treat the language as we have done in recent years. I am glad the Minister is responding to the Fine Gael position.

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