Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator Quinn called for a reconsideration of our relationship with the 24 countries which are party to the Schengen Agreement and made the point that identification is now necessary for those of us who wish to travel within the UK. I will arrange a debate on this matter at the earliest possible opportunity. He also proposed the movement of the feast of Easter to the second Sunday in April, as had His Holiness Pope Paul VI in 1975, and I will pass his views on to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs.

I fully agree with Senators Ó Murchú and Cummins in their calls for support for the Garda Síochána. We should do everything we can to ensure it has all the resources necessary to fight crime. There have been huge increases in the funding for personnel and the membership of the Garda Síochána is probably at its highest level in the history of the State. I will allow whatever time is needed for a debate on supporting the force and providing it with resources. Time will not be a problem for that to be discussed in the House so that we can see how we can give further support for the great work of the Garda Síochána.

Senator Kelly congratulated Members on statements made in the House last night regarding workers, their rights and their treatment. We all fully support workforces. In one case, however, the employer did not have a chance to give notice to its employees that their jobs were to go. The keys were asked for by another entity and it was taken out of the employer's hands.