Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I will allow time for such a debate and I ask Senators to prepare their submissions so that we can have a meaningful open-ended debate with the Minister present in the next few weeks.

Senators O'Toole and Hannigan expressed strong views on the position on passports under the Good Friday Agreement and the Government's policy in this regard. I will also allow time for a debate on this matter.

Senators Hannigan and Keaveney expressed strong concerns about the ESRI. I wish to inform Senators that the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, will be in the House tomorrow. Many Senators have been expressing concern about various articles written in publications from time to time regarding the upcoming budget. Tomorrow will provide an opportunity with the Minister present for Senators who have expressed their concerns on the Order of Business and I look forward to hearing the concerns expressed aired tomorrow. We will allow at least three hours for the debate.

Any fair-minded person looking back on Ireland over the past ten to 15 years would have to say we have achieved much and there is much more on which we can build. I would not be as pessimistic as the sentiments expressed in many of the articles we read in the newspapers today, and most Senators probably agree with me.