Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

It was a star performance and as there were so many events, meetings and committees in the House on that day I will allow time for the Minister to return early in the new year and continue yesterday's debate. Senator Coghlan spoke about the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. I shall have inquiries made for the Senator in this regard. Senator Bacik raised the matter of Government child care policy and wanted the Minister to come to the House to debate this. As the Senator knows, an extra €11 million was allocated last week in the budget for this, and I am sure she was pleased to hear that. There is no difficulty in setting time aside for this.

After the Order of Business this morning, the party leaders will meet to discuss matters arising for next week. I hope the wording of the motion regarding the Green Oxygen Party leader in Colombia will be agreed at that meeting and will be on the Order Paper for next week. I understand Senators Harris and Ross had a very joyous meeting yesterday. The occasion must have been for a certain type of Senator since neither the Cathaoirleach nor I was invited. I understand that now that we are in their book of good news, however, we may be at their Christmas party next year. I wonder what is coming down the track, but it is the good news slot in the Seanad this week and I thank the Senators for their kind remarks and comments.

Senator McFadden called for the Minister for Health and Children to address the House on the long-term illnesses support schemes. That is a very reasonable request and there is no difficulty in having time left aside for this. I still await an update on the matters she brought to my attention for the Minister for Transport about the Athlone-Mullingar railway line and also the reopening of the Killucan railway station, which would be a big help to commuters in the midlands region.