Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Alex White, Twomey, Mary White, McFadden, Mullen and Buttimer expressed their strong views on inviting the Minister for Health and Children to the House regarding cystic fibrosis sufferers and on the Minister and the Department providing buildings and services for patients. I agree with all the sentiments expressed today on having the necessary investment put in place. Yesterday I heard the Minister on the radio explaining very strongly and forcefully her commitment to doing whatever she possibly can, particularly given the strict economic climate in which we find ourselves. I saw Ms Orla Tinsley on television and I, too, believe that we should do everything we possibly can to assist. I fully support the calls made here today and I will pass them on to the Minister after the Order of Business.

Senator Fitzgerald called for an update on the events of this week. I will come back to the Senator on that after the Order of Business. Senators Keaveney, Hanafin and Norris joined Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole and Alex White on increasing the price of cigarettes in the budget and introducing smuggling deterrents. I agree with the sentiments expressed and will pass on the Senators' strong views, particularly regarding sentencing. The point made to the House was that sentencing makes a farce of the law. There is no fear of the law and we must address this as a matter of urgency.

I will pass to the Minister Senator O'Toole's views on equality matters. Senator O'Toole also spoke on energy independence and said we are in an ideal position to source our energy, being an island economy. Senator Leyden called on the Minister regarding the matters she outlined to the House. We are in an ideal position to sell our energy, whether wind or any other form. Many colleagues, including Senator Butler, who is a pioneer on these matters, referred to this.

Senator Alex White asked for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's views on the Privacy Bill. The Privacy Bill will be before the House this year and we can discuss and deliberate on the merits and demerits of it when it comes to the House. Senator Keaveney spoke on substance misuse, the strategy in the committee report, which has been brought to the Minister's attention and which has received support. Senators Wilson, Keaveney and McFadden spoke out very strongly on the party pill. Senator Wilson referred to the committee report and the drug strategy report. I congratulate the committee on all the good work it has done on this. I suggest in future, to get value for money for the taxpayer, instead of paying millions of euro to consultants, the committee system is used as it has been proven to be most successful. Members of both Houses who come from various professions are the experts in terms of the membership of those committees. They are answerable to the public and the taxpayer for the advice they give to Departments and Ministers. I see no need for consultants in future once we go through the committee system. The committee system gives the best value for money and in terms of accountability. I strongly congratulate the committees on the report, which has been welcomed here by members of those committees and by colleagues who have worked hard to bring forward this report and get the Department's support for it.

I join in the comments of Senator Keaveney on Garda Robert McCallion who had an unfortunate, dreadful accident. He is fighting for his life and we wish him well and send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery. Senators Twomey and Butler called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to come to the House regarding job creation and to discuss where the best value for money can be got for the €1 billion that is being spent through FÁS. Senator Butler is a captain of industry with wide experience in this area. The strength of the Seanad is highlighted by the amount of expertise available to the Government, Departments and Ministers from those who have been in positions to advise and make recommendations to the House. It has been said here that the smart economy is one where jobs will be in the future. However €1 billion is a huge amount of money to be spent and I have given an undertaking to the House to have an all-day debate in the very near future on job creation and the €1 billion budget for FÁS.

Senators Mary White, McFadden and Buttimer expressed their concerns about employment. Senator Mary White referred to cash flows and the fact that it takes up to six months to recover money from the Department for those who are being let go — up to 60%, we are told, must be returned to employers. In times of difficulty we have to see what we can do in this regard. Senators Norris, Daly, Hanafin and Regan spoke about Standard & Poor's. Senator Regan made his usual marvellous contribution. I wish him luck as a substitute in the European Parliament. I was there for 25 years and I hope he is luckier than I was.