Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I support the call for an open and transparent debate on the issue of expenses. Senator Twomey is broadly correct in asking for such a debate. It might clear some of the fog and cloud which surround issues such as this. When I was a Deputy and ran a constituency office, my office running costs in 2003 were €23,500, which were vouched. I received an allowance of less than €9,000. My telephone expenses were three times the allowance. I would like to see transparency in this matter. Members of the public are angry. They do not understand the system; broad global figures are published which paint an untrue picture of the work Senators and Deputies do. We need transparency. The House should debate the matter.

For some time I have been asking for a debate on the fishing industry. The Leader promised to give it priority when we returned in the autumn. Without meaning to annoy him, will he arrange a debate on the Common Fisheries Policy which is being cobbled together? As it is of considerable interest to our coastal communities, we should have an input in it.

It is crazy that we must go to Brussels each year and negotiate the precise quota for each species. It is not known from one year to the next. Fishermen must plan ahead, but they are only told the herring, hake, mackerel or whitefish quota two or three days before Christmas. It is an uncertain situation and the annual talks frustrate fishermen. A debate on this topic is overdue.