Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I commend the Minister of State on coming up with the idea of doubling the penalty points for road traffic offences over the bank holiday weekend. I call on the Road Safety Authority to consider taking it on board. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, is to meet the police in New South Wales on his visit to Australia with a view to clarifying the nuts and bolts of the idea.

Senators O'Toole, Boyle, Buttimer, Norris and Doherty asked for the Minister for Education and Science to be invited to the House to debate the issue of returning to the priority list system in respect of the schools building programme. As has been pointed out by Senator Doherty, the current Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, put this system in place when he was Minister for Education and Science. The system worked very well. I understand there is great demand on the east coast in particular because the population is increasing rapidly in that region. I am sure the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, will come to the House to debate this. I welcome the allocations made earlier this year. I welcome the fact that 2,000 of the 4,000 teachers referred to in the programme for Government have been put in place.

Considerable investment is being made and we therefore should consider supporting in every way we can the boards of management, principals, Oireachtas Members and other public representatives with a view to feeding information to and making life easier for the community members who volunteer their time to support education in their parishes.

I agree with Senator O'Toole on wind turbines, especially those with the full approval of their communities. I will be in touch with the office of the Minister with a view to updating the Senator on the position on planning applications. There seems to be no good reason planning permission should not be granted for developing this very environmentally friendly means of energy generation. As an island country, Ireland has a great advantage in this area.

Senator Hannigan pointed out the various increases in charges sanctioned by the Commission for Aviation Regulation. I will pass on his strong views to the Minister for Transport. The Senator also sought to establish the up-to-date position on quarrying and quarrying legislation. Most reputable people who operate quarries have spent a great deal of money updating them according to the requirements of the Department. I certainly would not have any difficulty with allowing time for such a discussion.

Senator Boyle called for a debate on the brain awareness week campaign. I made a commitment in this regard and have no difficulty in allowing for such a debate.

Senators Ormonde and Leyden called for the House to prioritise the debate on the pending Lisbon treaty referendum. As I informed the House last week, the President of the European Parliament will be present in the House at 10.30 a.m. on 8 April, after the Easter recess. I intend to have a debate on the treaty that afternoon and evening in the presence of the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Roche.

As the Members probably know, the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, pertaining to the Lisbon treaty, will be before the House for consideration, possibly two weeks after we return from the Easter recess. In the month of April alone, therefore, we will be considering the Bill and hearing from the President of the European Parliament. If Senators have any good ideas in this regard, the Leader is always prepared to consider them and to make discussion possible in the House such that the public will be informed fully regarding the decision they must make.

Senator Prendergast called for a debate on psychiatric beds for adolescents. She made an urgent request in this regard on two or three occasions and I have no difficulty with having a debate on the matter.

Senators Harris and Norris referred to the courageous decision of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to retain the poetry of Cathal Ó Searcaigh on the leaving certificate syllabus, thus acknowledging the talent of this renowned poet. I support the views of the Senators in this regard.

Senator Norris referred to alcohol abuse and advertising. Everyone is in agreement with the sentiments of the Senator, particularly in respect of advertising billboards. We had the same challenge with smoking. I am not an expert in this area because, as everyone knows, I do not drink, but I believe there should be no bars in schools. One is in school to learn and use one's brain.