Dan Boyle (Green Party)

Senator Leyden talked about the possibility of a windfall tax on those within the financial services industry who have walked away to date following practices which, at the very least, have been incompetent and possibly corrupt. Questions have also been asked by Senator Callely on what action is being taken. My understanding is that the Director of Corporate Enforcement is engaged in ongoing investigations as regards two financial institutions and a number of individuals, and is in the course of preparing a case that will come before the courts. I do not believe it is in order to refer to either the institutions or the individuals concerned. However, to reiterate a call made by all public representatives, unless responsibility is taken for the actions that have brought about economic collapse, it will be very difficult for the people to accept the type of actions we need to correct the economy.

Senator Leyden also raised the question of competition on the Dublin-Galway route. A public transport Bill was recently initiated in this House and is about to go before the other House. I suspect there is potential for further amendments, which will bring it back to the Seanad for conclusion and I suggest any report on amendments made in the Dáil could be an opportunity to raise finally this issue with the Minister.

Senator McFadden raised the issue of Vietnamese adoptions. She raised this on a previous Order of Business. Information has been supplied on the current situation. There are further questions about a timeline for that. I believe the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children is sincere in his attempt to bring about an early conclusion to this. The Hague Convention is being followed to ensure all the t's are crossed and the i's dotted. If I get more precise information I will ensure the Senator is also given that information.

Senators Norris and Mullen raised the issue of the civil partnership Bill. In the first instance the newly agreed programme for Government has given an undertaking that this Bill will be introduced by the end of this year to secure an early passage. I understand it will be introduced into the other House. I have not been informed otherwise. Discussion of the issue of conscience and the application of the Equal Status Act are best left for the debate when it happens. There is a common cliché that a camera never lies. I happen to believe a camera does not have a conscience either. We will have that debate when the Bill comes to the House. There is a demand for the Bill to be treated with appropriate seriousness and to pass it into the Statute Book as quickly as possible.

Senator Norris also mentioned the closure of Fitzgibbon Street Garda station. In the first instance this is an operational matter for the Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner. As someone who fairly regularly attends games in Croke Park and knows how material can go missing quite quickly, I know it would be unfortunate for many people who attend games at Croke Park if Fitzgibbon Street Garda station was not available. However, that is an operational decision.

The Senator also asked about the bus gate at College Green which is a matter of concern for Dublin city traders. As a transport initiative it is working very successfully and bus users are moving in and out of Dublin city quite quickly. If there are concerns over business in the city, the businesses should consider the people who are getting in and out of Dublin city more quickly and in larger numbers. I hope that will be the direction of the debate in future.

Senator Cummins mentioned that the community support scheme was briefly opened on 1 October and now seems to have been closed again. I suspect that has been a funding issue and that the funding was expended in that quick time period. However, I will undertake to get that information to him as quickly as possible.

The Senator also asked how the Minister for Defence is interacting with PDFORRA on possible public sector disputes over the budgetary situation. PDFORRA and the Garda representative organisations are in a different situation from other public sector representative bodies and I suspect that is the principle being applied here. However, his views will be made known.

Senator Regan spoke about the former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, being in the frame for possible appointment to the position of President of the European Council, which is to be decided at a future meeting of the Council. For the purpose of the record, the House should express its pride and satisfaction at the job Mr. Bruton has done in Washington as the European Union ambassador to the United States. I do not believe this House has a particular influence as to who the next President of the European Council should be-----