John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator Twomey on the pharmacy dispute. I also join my colleague, Senator Buttimer, in calling for a debate on regional development.

Will the Leader contact the Minister for Education and Science regarding the ongoing debacle arising from the possibility of establishing a university for the south-east region? Before Christmas, the Government appointed Dr. Jim Port, a British gentleman with many years experience in education, to report on the third level facilities available in the south-east region and the current operations of Waterford Institute of Technology. I understand Dr. Port's report was presented to the Government before Christmas. Despite having been contacted by the institute of technology, the regional authority and various local bodies in the south east, the Minister has refused to publish the document. Two schools of thought have arisen as a result. The majority of local people believe the reason the Minister has not published the report is that it makes positive recommendations which would compel her to make a positive decision and grant university status to the Waterford Institute of Technology. Regardless of its contents, it is essential the report is published. Will the Leader bring as much pressure as possible to bear on the Minister to ensure the report is published as soon as possible?

I refer to a recent three-part series broadcast on RTE on the State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy. It will be recalled that during my previous term as a Senator, I expressed strong support for Professor Cassidy and requested that additional funding be made available to improve the facilities in south Dublin from which she and her predecessor have operated because they leave a great deal to be desired.

I am unhappy, however, about the disclosure of certain details in the series. I had time to watch the first of the three programmes. Anyone with an interest in pathology or the way our criminal system operates would be interested in the series. Some of the detailed information broadcast about recent sensitive cases, including the discovery of bodies, was highly inappropriate. These cases concern people's children or brothers or sisters. Professor Cassidy made a serious error of judgment in some of the comments she made.