David Norris (Independent)

Will the Leader arrange a debate on education? It is interesting and, in some ways, very positive that there has been an 8% rise in the number of successful applicants for university. However, this has to be funded. I am very concerned at how education, particularly research and teaching, will be funded in the absence of fees. This issue needs to be discussed.

I also ask that we contact the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to ask for a full explanation of what is happening with the Ryan report. While I know there are difficulties, it is worrying that this very significant report is being delayed yet again. It was delivered to the Government authorities, including the Director of Public Prosecution, in July. In October we found there was another problem with it and that more would have to be blanked out. One woman was a victim 50 years ago. How long more do the people concerned have to wait for justice? Why was this issue not properly examined and scrutinised and why were the perpetrators not prosecuted earlier? Will we ever receive the report and in what mutilated form will we receive it?

While I do not often mention sport, it has been very interesting to listen to reports on the fate of Derry City Football Club, an issue which has some political implications. As a constituent of mine pointed out in a letter to The Irish Times yesterday, Derry City has some difficulties. There was financial malpractice which apparently is widespread and Derry City is not the only football club affected. Its future is greatly threatened and I am concerned because Derry has a large population of young men interested in football. If the club hits difficulties, they will be available for other opportunities and other occupations in a city where the dissident republican groups are growing. I would hate to think a lack of resources provided by a football club in the city would lead to the involvement of young men in a horrible revisiting of the worst periods of the past 20 years.