Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Before I deal with the Order of Business, as Leader of the House, I join everyone, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who saw the significant progress made in regard to decommissioning in the North of Ireland over the weekend. I do not want this important and historic occasion to pass without remembering the words of the Minister, who stated:

In recent years, loyalist organisations have been making effective progress towards conflict transformation, and [the weekend was] an important landmark in this process. Northern Ireland has now moved closer to achieving the genuinely shared future for which many people have taken risks over the past decades. I wish [as do all Members of this House] to express the Government's appreciation to the loyalist leadership and all those who took crucial and courageous decisions to facilitate [the steps which took place over the weekend under the stewardship of General John de Chastelain].

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Hannigan, Leyden, Hanafin, Harris, Buttimer and MacSharry called for various important and challenging issues, and the reports that are coming to Government for its consideration, to be discussed in the House before the summer recess. Calls have been made to me on several occasions with regard to the IMF report and Senator Fitzgerald repeated that call today. I will be outlining to the House on the conclusion of the Order of Business the proposals for our consideration over the next three weeks. The IMF report will be considered on the final sitting day before the summer recess.

The report of an bord snip nua is coming to the Government for its consideration and I await developments in that area. If the Government wishes to publish part or all of that report for our consideration, we have no difficulty whatsoever with that. As Senators Leyden and MacSharry have pointed out to the House, we would like to have our input into this issue and it is of the utmost importance that we debate it in the House at the earliest possible time. In addition, we want to let the Government know what our proposals in this area would be, especially in regard to Senator Harris' proposal today, which is a worthwhile example of what can be done if everyone puts their shoulder to the wheel.

Senators O'Toole, Healy Eames and Buttimer raised the issue of bringing the Ryan report back to the House for the further consideration of colleagues. I have already given a commitment in this area and I will not be found wanting when time is required.

Senators Hannigan and Keaveney referred to the consumer report and the cuts in the price of food in recent months, which are very welcome. We should debate this on an ongoing basis. It is a serious challenge especially now that the groceries order has been eliminated. The House should keep an eye on this area and be the protector, in so far as we can, on behalf of the consumer.

Senators Hannigan, Norris and Mullen welcomed the Civil Partnership Bill, which provides for property rights. It possibly does not go as far as some people would want but certainly it is a move in the direction of the requests and calls on the Government over the years to respond to the matter.

On behalf of all of us, I congratulate our colleague Senator Lisa McDonald on the birth of her daughter in recent days and wish her and her husband well. I also congratulate Senator McCarthy. It is also a joyous time for him and his wife with the birth of their baby in the past week. It is good to see all the young family Members of the House having their celebrations and experiencing the joy of birth, which is the greatest gift the good Lord could give any family or individual.

Senators Leyden and MacSharry called on the Government urgently to establish export credit insurance. It has been said here that many other countries and competitors in Europe in particular have brought this in again. I will certainly pass on the urgent views of the Senators to the Minister, especially the comments of Senator MacSharry who outlined to the House that the value of exports increased in the month of April by 5%. Japan and China have experienced a substantial reduction in their exports and this augers well for us as an export nation.

Senator Twomey commented on the role of the public service and the Civil Service and expressed his gratitude for what they have done. He referred to the utterances of the Governor of the Central Bank, and perhaps the Governor was correct. I would not like to think that Fine Gael is always the party of "No". Let us wait and see whether he is correct. We will know in a short period of between six and 12 months.