Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Yes. Senator Prendergast referred to swine flu and, as I said in recent days, I am endeavouring to have the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, here on Wednesday next week concerning the swine flu epidemic and an update on the pharmacy issue. I will revert to the House later this week to report on how successful I have been in arranging this.

I join in Senator John Carty's comments concerning the kidnapping of Sharon Commins in Darfur. Our hearts go out to her family who are near neighbours of Senator Carty. It is a very trying and testing time and I hope the good work being done by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and his officials will bring this to a successful conclusion. I certainly join with the Senator in his expressions of goodwill this morning.

Senators Callely, Glenn, Donohoe and Hanafin called for a debate on the code of conduct for banks. Access to credit for SMEs is close to nil, and this is causing major problems. We will have statements all day on Friday on the reports by the IMF and the OECD, and I strongly suggest that Senators give their views when the Minister is present. This is a major challenge and with the recess coming, we want to do everything we can. Given that some banks are getting €6 billion, as has been pointed out by Senator Donohoe, we have to get an assurance for those banks that do not come under the guarantee. They are under no obligation and are here purely on a commercial basis. Now that there is no ACC and ICC, there is no friendly bank for SMEs at the moment. That is the difficulty now compared with the 1980s. Colleagues will have an opportunity all day on Friday to make the point to the Minister.

Senator Hannigan spoke about the experience of backpackers at Dublin Airport, and I will certainly pass his views onto the Minister. Senator Glynn spoke about social welfare fraud and the experiences he outlined to the House are a great cause for concern. It goes to show what is taking place and I will pass his views onto the Minister. Senator Coghlan spoke about the proposed Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009. This Bill has been published and it will provide for the establishment of a property services regulatory authority to give effect to the report of the auctioneers review group. I will update the House on the Order of Business on the timeframe proposed for that Bill. The Senator also spoke about an bord snip, and he can inquire about the position of the Minister at the debate here next Friday.

Senators Mary White and Keaveney called for a fair deal for preschool children over three years and three months, regardless of parental income. This is very welcome and I fully support Senator White's call that there should be a flat rate or even no rate, in order to assist those on the lower income threshold and give their children the same opportunities as those on middle or upper incomes. The greatest example to be given is the setting up of the institutes across the country going back to the 1970s in Letterkenny, Sligo, Athlone and so on, where the working man's or woman's child was given an opportunity to have the second and third level education that he or she did not have until then. I fully support Senator White's call this morning, and we will pass those views on to the Minister and have a debate here if necessary.

Senator Feargal Quinn raised the issue of food waste, and wished Sweden well in its Presidency of the EU. Senator Quinn and his family have been experts on food for decades, and his points were alarming to say the least. My mother used often say "wilful waste is woeful want". Some 2.6 billion slices of bread are going to waste here every year, something we were not used to in our time. I always thought the sweetest part of the bread was the crust. To each their own I suppose.

Senator Buttimer called for a debate on the success of social partnership. I strongly suggest that we take this on board at the debate on Friday. Senator Keaveney outlined her experiences in her part of the country and in the North of Ireland regarding community policing, and spoke about the feedback from the police there and the proposals of the Garda Síochána here. She highlighted the importance of information coming back from the community and information to keep all of our areas safe. I certainly agree with the sentiments expressed by the Senator. We might put this down on Private Members' Business for Fianna Fáil, in order to allow the House to express its views.

Senator Coffey spoke about the EU globalisation fund and the €20 million available to those in the Limerick area. I will make inquiries about the south east and especially the hard pressed workers who have lost their jobs in Waterford Crystal. Six hundred jobs is a great amount to lose in one area, and I will make inquiries to see what has been ring fenced and will come back to the Senator directly. It is a serious issue and a great challenge. The skill of the workforce in that particular area has taken years to develop and is a brand name throughout the world. One's heart would go out to them, because Waterford Crystal, Baileys, Guinness and so on are all world brand names that take generations to create and are such wonderful ambassadors for our country as well.

Senator McFadden spoke about the accident at Turin church this morning. That is just down the road from where I live. All traffic was diverted through Castlepollard. There are many twists and turns in the area. A huge amount of money has been spent on the N52 and it is improving all the time. I have given a commitment that the Westmeath Oireachtas Members will meet with the NRA. I will be the convenor and will arrange that meeting. The Senator can rest assured that this will be before the summer recess.