Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Members' contributions were outstanding. I congratulated all those who made a contribution. I accept there is quite a number of other Senators who want to make a contribution on the serious findings of the report. As Senator O'Toole said, I have no difficulty in recalling the House, even during the holidays, to debate the serious matters that will be brought to our attention over the coming months.

I intend for the House to revisit the Ryan report before the end of this session to accommodate those Senators who did not have an opportunity to contribute in the last debate. I will return to Senator Alex White on his queries concerning the Residential Institutions Redress Board as I am still awaiting a response from the Minister's office.

Senators O'Toole, Keaveney, Ó Murchú expressed disappointment at the lack of funding for the only remaining Irish-language newspaper published in the island of Ireland. The House has complimented TG4 to no end on the amount of good work it has done for the Irish language. Its achievements are mind-boggling. Media penetration breaks down at 70% for television, 20% for radio and, unfortunately, 10% for the printed media. TG4 has filled the void in the 70% media penetration for the Irish language. It has also done more than just cover the Irish language, being in my opinion, the best Irish television station available. We in rural Ireland can identify more with TG4's programming and coverage of the various aspects of Irish life with which we were brought up. Cathal Goan, now the director general of RTE, can take a bow for his work in the creation and putting in place of TG4. I wish those deliberating on the funding for Foinse well in these difficult times. As it is a cross-Border publication and an integral part of our whole being, I hope the deliberations can be brought to a successful conclusion.

Senators O'Toole, Keaveney and Coghlan called for debates on North-South bodies and cross-Border funded projects. In their submissions on Seanad reform, all parties have called for this to be an important part of a monthly debate in the House. Such debates would allow us to assist our fellow parliamentarians in Stormont in their deliberations on cross-Border projects and activities and the achievements, North and South.

Senators Alex White, MacSharry and Callely called for a debate on a Dublin action plan for the next ten years and the 2030 vision for Dublin. Senator MacSharry pointed out that development in the regions should be part of this debate. I will discuss this with the leaders of the groups at our meeting next Tuesday, along with the Seanad being the conduit for the local authorities, Government agencies and Departments on this matter.

Senator Coghlan, as always, brought to the House's attention his great concerns regarding his native town of Killarney and Killarney House. I will pass his strong views on to the Minister.

Senator Leyden called for a debate with the Minister for Finance on pre-legislative changes needed for the setting up of LAMA.