Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

People drove home without knowing what was ahead of them. The senior administrators do not take into account the fact that ordinary people will be discommoded. Senator Ryan stated that an update of the communications system was needed.

The Senator also seeks a debate on ethics because we are losing out on funding due to the ethical regulation of our medical trials. Long may they remain in place. Firms must run trials on drugs but it is correct that they are governed by ethics.

Senator Ryan raised a valid point in respect of the National Pensions Reserve Fund. It has no ethical guidelines in respect of where it invests our money. The idea that it must invest where it will potentially receive the greatest return is a constraint. We object to the arms race and we have debates on the Middle East. However, our money may be funding the arms trade and embryonic stem cell research. I do not know what Department we could invite for the debate.