John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I concur with the last part of what Senator Norris said. I join other colleagues in seeking debates on agriculture, education and health. Yesterday I asked the Leader for an indication when we might have those debates, although I did not expect he would be able to name the day. Perhaps he did not fully understand what I was asking.

What strikes me about the schedules we have had for recent weeks, including this week, is that it has been very slim. There are a number of Ministers in the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Education and Science and Health and Children. If the senior Minister cannot be in the Chamber for the entire debate, it should not mean we cannot have it. It is inappropriate that we have not had discussions on the budget cuts in education, health and agriculture since they were announced by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I hope we can have them as soon as possible.

When Adjournment matters are tabled by Members, there is an appalling lack of relevant Ministers coming to the House to respond. I had two Adjournment matters taken recently and have another matter listed for today, which I hope will be taken by the relevant Minister. The two recent matters came within the remit of the Department of Education and Science in which there are at least four Ministers. On both occasions one of the other Adjournment matters related to education. It should be possible that one of the four Ministers in that Department could be here to answer direct questions on such matters. It is all well and good to ask another Minister to reply, but he or she cannot deal specifically with matters relating to the Department of Education and Science. I hope that there will be a change in this respect.

The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006, which was passed here two years ago, has disappeared into the ether between here and the other House and has not been seen since. The argument could be made that, with the amount of conveyancing that has taken place in the past ten years, the passing of the Bill is a bit too late. Will the Leader advise when the Bill might be taken in the other House — I acknowledge he may not be able to do so now on the Order of Business.

I point out to Senator O'Toole and others that there are considerable disadvantaged areas in parts of the country other than the west. Farmers in my part of the country and, I am sure, in the Leader's and the Cathaoirleach's parts of the country will suffer serious cutbacks as a result of the budget with the cuts that will take place in the disadvantaged areas payments, the scrappage of the installation aid scheme and the early retirement scheme and significant cutbacks in the suckler cow scheme and a number of other initiatives. I hope we will have a debate on agriculture as soon as possible.