Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Fitzgerald seems to have taken a constructive approach to the problem with CAO applications and telephoned the Minister's office several times. The play on words was interesting. The Minister did not "order" the CAO to extend the deadline because she knew she could not because that would have been ultra vires. However, she asked it politely whether it "could" be done. The CAO played on that by saying she had not asked it to do it.

Senator Henry raised the issue of BUPA Ireland and community rating. She also asked about the Statute Law Revision Bill. We expect to have that next week. She mentioned that in some legislation vulnerable adults are referred to in very unseemly terms and asked whether the scheme of mental capacity and guardianship could be worked into the new legislation. We will see what the Minister of State in the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Kitt, has to say on that.

I referred already to Senator Ormonde's contribution which referred to Mrs. Lynch's holistic approach. Senator Ormonde also mentioned the technological system of applications to the CAO and the vulnerability of students. Her input is valuable because it comes as a result of the Senator's background and knowledge.

Senator Cummins is glad the sale of magic mushrooms is banned. However, many herbal drugs for sale are harmful and the Senator would like a review of the issue. Some people place great faith in those drugs.

Senator Glynn asked for a debate on the Landlord and Tenant Act. We will have debate on that issue, but will not have general statements in the next few weeks as we have too much legislation to process. We will deal with the issue when we have dealt with the legislative backlog. We are not to blame for the backlog; the problem is rather that we are having more Bills.

Senator Quinn raised the difference between "could" and "would" regarding extension of the CAO deadline, but he praised the port tunnel, for which I thank him. It is making a great difference, and it will do the same where he lives. He also spoke of a paperless Leinster House, something to which Senator MacSharry alluded yesterday when he raised the number of reports that land on our desks only to be thrown out.

Senator Mooney correctly desires a share of EU moneys for the upgrading of regional airports. Ireland already receives them, but he wants some of it given to Knock International Airport, a sentiment with which I concur. Knock has been a great success story after being born in fraught times and dismissed out of hand by the Opposition of the day. However, that is life. Best wishes have been expressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and the increase in funding——