Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes raised the nursing dispute, sensibly proposing that since the national implementation body has discussed the issue and, as Senator O'Toole pointed out, has reached accommodation on two of the three issues, it should go back to the NIB. There is no higher body for dealing with disputes and it could be looked at through the benchmarking process. That is a sensible idea and some minds are already considering that. I hope so because people are worried about this, even those who are not sick.

Senator Hayes also mentioned the proposed statutory instrument regarding a national paediatric hospital development board and asked for a debate on it. I am sure it could be debated under the 21 day rule. I have never seen the rule invoked but the Senator claims the Taoiseach is at variance with the Minister for Health and Children on the matter. Senator Hayes claims no debate on the location of the children's hospital has taken place and this may allow for it. We will see if that is possible.

Senator O'Toole pointed out that the NIB had shown possibilities for forward movement in the nurses' dispute and the subject should be revisited by the body. He also mentioned the light bulb levy, calling instead for the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs by the Government by 2009. I will mention the idea to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

I agree with Senator Tuffy. Those of us who are campaigning for election to the Dáil come across houses where the mother has the children, in accordance with court judgments. The father, however, wants to have the children for the weekend but only has a small apartment, after the mother was granted the tenancy of the council house, and has nowhere to bring the children. That has caused a great deal of disquiet and worry because the father wants to play the part of a parent but cannot see his children at weekends because he has nowhere to bring them. Sometimes the social worker does not allow the father access because of a lack of proper housing. It is a vexed question. I supported divorce but it brings trauma in its wake. It is a traumatic step, especially when children are involved. The Senator mentioned the report by Dr. CarolCoulter on the topic. There could be a junior family mediation process where co-parenting issues could be discussed and children could talk through their difficulties. It would be good to have such a system in place.

That was echoed by the remarks made by Senator Browne, but in many cases, divorce is preferable to warring parents with young children in the house, because that is very difficult for children to cope with. Experiencing conflict daily is harmful and a respite from it is necessary. We should arrange a debate on family law ten years after the divorce referendum. I thank both Senators for raising in such a vigorous manner how children are affected by the onset of divorce.

Senator Ormonde agreed with the points made by Senator Tuffy and called for reform of the CAO. Many colleges are now scrambling to get people to take courses, rather than the other way around, and they are visiting far-off places such as India and China in order to get students. It would be good if there could be more flexibility, as regards the CAO.

Senator Coghlan returned to his favourite theme, Dingle. He should do his master's treatise on it or something such. I am sure he would be ably assisted, in the event, by Senator O'Toole. He worries that the visitors are not coming because they cannot find where to go to. Senator Leyden has direct knowledge of Dingle from last weekend when, he reports, one could hardly budge in it.