Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

It is our Government, the Senator's and mine. Senator O'Toole mentioned carbon credits and I will pass to the Minister the Senator's very good suggestion. It is a budgetary issue that will come forward in the next budget.

Senator Alex White spoke of the Commission on Taxation report, which is due. I intend to give the fullest time in the House in the coming weeks for Senators to make submissions on the proposed commission report. Why should we not have the opportunity to let our opinions be considered by those who are compiling the report? Senators referred to the Tánaiste and job creation efforts. We look forward to announcements by the Tánaiste, no matter what forum it is in, this week.

Senators, Daly, Norris, Buttimer, Mullen and John Paul Phelan joined Senator Harris, who brought the matter to the House, in expressing condolences on the death of Christy Nolan and noting his genius. Mr. Nolan's mother is possibly one of the unsung heroes of modern times. I wish to be associated with those comments and, as somebody who has been closely associated with the arts for many years, I know this man has been incredible. We all feel a huge loss at his passing. He served the arts and his stay on earth with remarkable distinction.

Senators Ó Domhnaill and Keaveney called for a debate with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Mary Hanafin, on social welfare, particularly the savings in cross-Border activity and the difficulty and challenges meeting the Department in this area. Senator Keaveney highlighted some good work, where €18 million was saved in the north west in the past year. I will have no difficulty in having time left aside for this.

Senator Keaveney also spoke of the big increase in the number of northern-registered cars on our roads in the Republic. The Minister is considering the issue as a matter of urgency and we had a long debate on it last week at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting. We all stressed the importance of addressing this matter.

Senator Mary White's husband, Padraic White, who was born on the Border, was on a wonderful programme on television last night with Brian Cody on Sunday. It is another example of good television about the unsung heroes and great achievers of our country. Mr. White explained that when he took over the IDA in the 1970s, the roads around the Border were all blocked. Thank God they are now open and whatever challenges that now have to be met, we will look into the matter and meet them. I have no difficulty in passing this on to the Minister after the Order of Business today.

Senators Hanafin, MacSharry and John Paul Phelan called for a debate on regulation. This is timely and coincides with next Friday's debate. I hope the Senators will bring the issue to the attention of the Minister when he is in the House on Friday. Senator Buttimer called for a debate on the role of Government in the economy, which can also be discussed on Friday in the all-day debate of the Bill.

Senator Cummins drew to the attention of the House the increase in crime arising from what appears to be drug related offences and gangland crime and to what must be done to assist the Garda Síochána in tackling it. If legislation needs to be amended, this House, the Dáil and the Minister will not be found wanting. Five Bills under the justice portfolio are on the Government's legislative programme for this session, which is the maximum number a Department can bring forward. Successive Ministers in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform have been to the fore during the past ten years in meeting the challenges presented and updating the legislation as required.

I join other speakers in paying tribute to the young garda who, on coming off the hurling field in Westmanstown last Sunday, courageously put his life at risk to apprehend the person who committed that dreadful crime. I also congratulate the retired officers from the force who assisted him in doing that.

I have taken on board Senator Mullen's views on this House getting its message across on television. I agree with many of the sentiments he expressed.