John Ellis (Fianna Fail)

I compliment the Tánaiste on what he said last week about the future of the Constituency Commission. Legislation is to come before us and there might be all-party agreement to amend it. In a previous debate on the electoral commission, Senators on the other side expressed the view that something should be done about the Constituency Commission's last report which did not take into consideration all the submissions made throughout the country. Given that the Labour Party also wishes it to be reviewed, it would now be an opportune time for a debate even before the Bill comes before the House. We had a debate on the electoral commission. We should have a debate on the changes proposed by the Constituency Commission.

I would also appreciate a debate on the WTO. From what I can see, Commissioner Mandelson is about to sell us out on a number of issues. It would be important for the House to express its opinions. This morning the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Pöttering, said that member states had the right to make their own submissions regarding any proposed decision of the Commission. It would be important to have this debate as soon as possible. If it means that the WTO talks are a failure in order for us to protect national interests, we have the right to do that.