Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

-----Athlone, at the other end of my constituency in the area of Senator McFadden and Deputy O'Rourke, and Belturbet will be affected seriously by this decision. I will have no difficulty in discussing this and seeking up-to-date information on the funding given by the Government to make the service available.

Senator Cummins called for a debate on law and order. I will arrange to have that take place at the earliest possible time. We must support our prison officers, our Garda Síochána, the Army and everyone in the services who put their lives on the line in terms of the challenges of their employment. I have no difficulty in this debate taking place early in the next session.

Senator James Carroll, in his maiden address to the House this morning - I can see this man will continue to work as hard as he possibly can, particularly in the area of transport - welcomed the carbon tax and expressed serious concern for the quality of service from Drogheda to Dublin and the plight of those in the Laytown-Bettystown area. He also welcomed the reopening of the rail line from Malahide. The Senator made a proposal to the House on the express service at 5.30 p.m. There are challenges facing the train service, which should be more efficient. Trains should arrive on time. In terms of the customers using the bus service and the survey the Senator carried out, there is room for major improvement. I will agree to the new Senator's request for the debate he has called for in the first two or three weeks of the next session.

I agree with Senator Norris on the sad passing of Liam Clancy. Donovan said he was the greatest ballad singer he had ever heard.