Dan Boyle (Green Party)

With regard to the statements on broadcasting standards, I propose that the contributions of spokespersons should be 12 minutes and those of other Senators be eight minutes.

Many Members have called for a debate on education. The Leader's office endeavours to organise such debates as quickly as possible and to have the relevant Minister present to respond. To date, there has not been an opportunity for the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House. Efforts are being made to secure the earliest date possible for the debate, and I will repeat the calls that were made today by Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Alex White, Mullen, Regan, Healy Eames and Buttimer. A response to the particular issues that were raised should properly wait for that debate.

A slightly different point was made by Senator Regan regarding private education. I am not aware of the Government taking a particular decision on private education. Obviously the difficult decisions that have been made were about how the resources that exist might be used most efficiently. I would not be opposed to a debate on private education in its own right as there are issues that must be discussed, such as the unintended consequences of universal free fees at third level and the resulting increase in the number of people paying fees for second level education. One of the concerns that exists about the series of spending curbs in the budget is how education for minority interests might be affected and how that might be looked at again. I am confident that reconsideration is being given in that area in particular.

Senator Fitzgerald and other Senators, particularly Senator Phelan, asked about legislation in the House, especially with regard to this week's business. There are two Bills on Committee Stage in the House at present, the Harbours (Amendment) Bill, which is proceeding on Thursday, and the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. We will deal also with the Finance Bill and the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill which traditionally follow the budget. These are very detailed and will take much of our time between now and the Christmas recess. The publication of the Government's programme for the next session will contain a number of Bills, some of which I am aware of and some of which were the subject of questions from Members on today's Order of Business.

Senator Fitzgerald and Senator Norris raised the issue of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority. My understanding is that despite large-scale curbs in both budgets, most of the curbs will result in a shared secretariat between the two organisations.