Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader confirm his commitment to hold a debate on the Common Fisheries Policy before the end of the session? It is critical that we debate this issue because the current Dáil and Seanad will be no longer in place when the Common Fisheries Policy is next debated.

Senator O'Toole stole my thunder when he raised the issue of rural transport. I echo and support his contribution on the suggestion that the night transport aspect of the rural transport scheme is to be removed. The scheme was introduced by the Minister on a pilot basis. I do not wish to be parochial on this issue but I represent an area with many peninsulas and remote locations. I listened on radio this morning to a lady from Glengarriff who lives some distance from her church and avails of the scheme to travel to church on Saturday evenings. This is a wonderful service which should, if possible, be maintained, even if it means increasing the charge by €1 or €2. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, has given great support to this and other initiatives in rural areas and disadvantaged urban areas, and I will be disappointed if the suggestion about which we heard this morning transpires to be true. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on rural transport and social inclusion before the end of the term.