Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

While I agree we should debate the pharmacists issue, it should be noted that the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and the Health Service Executive will discuss the matter at a joint committee meeting next Tuesday. It is important we consider the manner in which the HSE has moved the goalposts.

I welcome the allocation of funds to institutes of technology under the third level minor works scheme. We should recognise the important role played by such institutes in our education system. It is time for the House to focus on institutes of technology.

Senator Fitzgerald mentioned that this year is the 90th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, which gave women the vote. In that context, perhaps the House could examine the major issue of bullying in the workplace. I accept it does not affect women only but also men. While it should be considered a separate issue, it ties into the topical issues of drugs and alcohol, which I remind Senator Ross we are debating today. Nurses do not want to be abused in their workplaces by people who have abused alcohol. The issue of bullying can be related to a second and badly needed debate on the supports offered to victims of all forms of violence, including sexual, psychological and verbal violence. We have stayed quiet on these issues for too long.

We have all seen the pictures of last week's visit of the Taoiseach to Ballymena to meet Mr. Paisley. I would like a discussion not only on the positive work being done on an all-island basis but also on the opportunities which have been presented but not yet taken up. In that context, I link two issues raised by Senator Ó Murchú in the recent past - RTE's decision to withdraw its medium wave service from Belfast and other areas and Aer Lingus's decision to stop using a few words as Gaeilge on its services out of Belfast. Will the Leader ask Aer Lingus management whether it intends to rebrand its logo as well, thereby removing all Irish symbols from its Belfast service?