Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It would be helpful if the Leader clarified the status of the Civil Partnership Bill 2004, which my colleague, Senator Norris, has pushed from the beginning. It has been suggested to us in quiet conversations that all is not well in the serried ranks of Fianna Fáil on this issue and that the Government is stepping back from the policy end because its Members are not as comfortable as heretofore. We certainly noticed that on the vote we previously took on the Bill. Perhaps the Leader can reassure us that the Government has not changed its position on that issue.

An interesting but little noticed report issued last week on an incident which took place last year involving a helicopter in Athlone. According to this report, somebody landed a helicopter on a carpark in the Golden Island shopping centre in Athlone in order to get a key cut. This was clearly a dangerous manoeuvre and the pilot ignored orders not to land given by the carpark supervisor, who was injured while trying to get out of the helicopter's way. I raise the matter because the helicopter in question is registered in the US and consequently does not come under this country's safety legislation, which imposes stringent maintenance rules on aircraft. Given the growing numbers of helicopters in this country, I want reassurance that such aircraft, all of which are potentially dangerous, can be regulated and inspected in Ireland and are required to comply with our regulations. This is a gap in the market which needs to be investigated.

Last year and the year before that, we held long debates on the groceries order. It is ironic that, despite all the wonders its abolition was predicted to bring, nothing has changed and, as Senator Fitzgerald noted, even in respect of goods sold in the same supermarket chain on both sides of the Border, prices are unacceptably higher in the South than in the North. I would welcome a debate on the issue and an explanation as to why these differences exist.