Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I wish to add my voice to the calls for an amendment to the Order of Business to address REPS, which is crucial to rural Ireland and the future of small farms across the State.

I also add my voice to Senator Twomey's amendment concerning pharmacists. I refer to the problem that those who want to receive medication in the next few weeks will face if this dispute is not resolved. This is a rerun of the previous dispute and I have been very vocal on the approach the Minister is taking. I have challenged her to look at the books of some of the pharmacists who will be put out of business if the Government continues in the direction it is going. I was glad that the court found the actions of the Minister at that time to be illegal.

The issues raised by Senator Mary White and others merit lengthy debate in this House. Later this evening the House will be adjourned for two months but there is a need for serious debate on an bord snip nua, Irish unity, collusion, REPS, pharmacies, Eircom and the 200,000 jobs lost in the past year in Ireland. For two months Senators will not be allowed to debate the issue of the day. It is appalling. The vast majority of people have no respect for this House, a point that was amplified by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he allowed a debate to take place knowing that no matter what was said, amendments would not be accepted.