Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Coghlan, Regan, Donohoe and Healy Eames expressed their concern about the decision of the High Court on the case brought before it by the Ó Cuanacháin family. Senator O'Toole suggested that the State should pick up the bill. I will endeavour to see how I can facilitate the request of Members to have this matter discussed in the House without infringing in any way on the separation of the courts and the Oireachtas.

I will address the issue of impending legislation at the end of the Order of Business. On the other matters raised by Senator Fitzgereald and on matters concerning education, I am pleased to inform Members that the Minister for Education and Science will come to the House in three weeks' time when there will be a special debate on the broad issue of autism. A significant number of young couples find themselves in very difficult positions and to say they are traumatised is an understatement. When one visits these young couples in their homes one realises they receive no assistance in some cases. There are 12 or 14 excellent centres where the service is being provided.

Keith Duffy, who is a champion of this cause, is a great example of what can be done. Early intervention has got to be the order of the day in respect of providing the service. I understand the Minister is looking at this matter sympathetically and I expect an announcement soon. We have a date placed on the Minister's diary for three weeks' time, which is the earliest possible date that could have been arranged for a debate of this nature.

Senators O'Toole and Ó Murchú asked about RTÉ's proposal to cease broadcasting on medium wave. Having listened to the Senators speak on this matter perhaps RTÉ will start an advertising campaign on its medium wave bandwidth and even defer its decision for a couple of months to facilitate those who wish to make an application, such as the Catholic Church and the Gaelic Athletic Association in the UK, and all those other organisations that help the senior citizens and those unfortunate people who had to leave our shores in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. I know hundreds and perhaps thousands of these people as I used to be over there on tour five times a year for two weeks at a time. They would go to all my functions on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was heartbreaking to see them there on a Friday evening with a smile on their faces. The greatest gift I could give them was to bring over the Westmeath Examiner with the Midland Topic. All these things kept them in touch with home and were very important. The expression this morning by Senator Ó Murchú that it is part of the furniture in their kitchens, bed-sittingrooms or bedrooms to have RTE available was correct as it keeps them in touch with their homeland.

RTE has a responsibility in this regard. The chief executive, Mr. Cathal Goan, is one of the greatest Irish men living in our country at this time. He knows exactly the plight of the emigrant, having been such a wonderfully successful director general of TG4 when it was getting off the ground. In the interests of everything good done in Ireland over the years, I ask that he would rally to the call and begin an advertising campaign to ascertain through the GAA and the churches how many thousands of people will need to have their radios replaced. It is a simple request.

RTE will save quite a lot of money from this change because it is expensive to broadcast on medium wave, which I presume is the only reason the service is being removed. As long as the services on a Sunday morning and all the various other Irish events that can be received in the UK, can be received on another wavelength, we in the Oireachtas would be happy. We are very unhappy at present, however, because people are being left to feel no one really cares. I want it to go out from Seanad Éireann that this House does care and is seriously concerned. We await a response from the director general of RTE on how it will address the situation. We will work hand in hand with the national broadcaster to find how we can facilitate the requests made in the House yesterday and today.

Senators O'Toole, Carty and Regan congratulated the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the IFA on bringing to a successful conclusion the Brazilian beef issue. I will request that the Minister would come to the House to debate agriculture. As Leader from 1997 to 2002, when I called an agriculture debate and put it on the clár, it was always an all-day debate. I look forward to having a meaningful review of the entire agriculture portfolio, particularly the successful conclusion of the Brazilian beef issue, on which the IFA and the Minister have worked hand in hand. I will ensure this takes place at the earliest possible time.

Senator Hannigan raised serious issues with regard to the Kenyan elections and I will pass on his views to the Minister. With regard to the proposed changes to payments to pharmacies, Senators Daly, Coghlan, O'Sullivan, Norris and Carty expressed their support for pharmacists, especially those in rural areas and smaller towns, and those family pharmacists who have given such tremendous service to families for generations. We care about this issue. When our concerns were raised previously, particularly at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting where more than 80% of members expressed their serious concerns, the Health Service Executive extended the scheme, through the intervention of the Minister and others, as I understand it. I have no difficulty asking the Minister to come to the House to update us on the serious request made of me today.

Senators John Paul Phelan and Buttimer called for a debate on regional development and co-location. I have no difficulty in allowing time for this to take place.

Senator Norris highlighted the issue of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. I will pass on the Senator's views to the Minister. I will have inquiries made into the issue he raised concerning the Nigerian situation.

Senator Regan raised the old chestnut of bashing the Taoiseach in various ways while making his concerns available to the House one more time. All fair-minded people will accept there has been no more successful Taoiseach in our lifetime or in the past seven years than Bertie Ahern.