Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Perhaps I have moved ahead, because what I have said reflects on the point made by Senator Ryan. I feel strongly that the whole debate has got mixed up the issue of clientelism. It seems to suggest we should we should not have clientelism or have Deputies, Senators or councillors clogging up the bureaucratic system. One paper suggested our job is to persecute civil servants. I agree. We need to persecute them, to make many approaches and to do much banging on doors. I apologise, I do not mean the lovely staff here.

Senator Ryan also praised Mrs. Lynch. He suggested we concentrate on properly staffing the Office of the Ombudsman and that only when clients' cases go to that office should other people step in. He also raised the issue of the CAO, as did Senator Norris, and the person who spoke on radio this morning. I do not know if the person who spoke was the CEO of the CAO, but I have been told by everyone he was cold and clinical and his response bore no relation to the heartbreak going on right now in homes throughout the country. Imagine the persecution facing parents who must deal with the situation and with the trauma of their adolescents who do not know whether their application is on time.

I take the points made by Senator Ormonde regarding the CAO applications. When she was a career guidance teacher, it was guidance teachers who had the responsibility of getting applications in on time. Now the application process is technological, cold and clinical. I know many people with sons and daughters due to apply this year and they must be riven by trauma.

Senator Ryan suggested we debate the latest Amnesty International report. I will consider that when we get through our legislative backlog. We had an altercation with regard to a particular gentleman, Fidel Castro, who is someone for whom we all have some affection, no matter what he did.