Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Leyden raised the issue of water charges and he was vocal at our parliamentary party meeting on the issue. He has not been hiding his light under a bushel. He said that there should be one uniform water charge for the country, which is a fair point. He said he was prepared to bell the cat, which he did.

Senator Finucane raised the case of the Castlemahon workers who will receive only two weeks' redundancy, which is a minimal amount. He asked if the Minister, Deputy Martin, would talk informally to the Labour Relations Commission to try to ensure that the workers receive a decent redundancy package. That should be done.

Senator Mansergh praised the tourism industry and visitor numbers. He pointed to the role played by former Ministers for Finance in that achievement. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes's inclusion of Mr. Alan Dukes in that respect. I never cease to marvel at Mr. Dukes's Tallaght Strategy and its impact at a pivotal time in Irish political life to enable stability to be restored to the fiscal scene.

Senator Henry raised the matter of the co-existence of genetically modified crops and organic crops and called for a debate on it. Senator Maurice Hayes called for a debate on the prisons system. It was revealed this morning that it costs €95,000 a year to keep a prisoner in a prison in Ireland, which is much higher than the cost internationally, although I do not know on what information that figure is based.

Senator McCarthy raised the matter of house prices and said today marked the fourth anniversary of the abolition of the first-time buyers' grant by the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen. I do not believe he was ever in charge of the first-time buyer's grant.