Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I recognise that today the Minister for Education and Science has allocated €579 million for the school buildings programme. I welcome, in particular, the fact that in my own area three schools in Letterkenny will benefit. Sometimes we hammer someone for what is not taking place, but we must recognise the great support this €579 million will provide for the construction industry.

While I accept that we will hold a debate on Northern Ireland tomorrow, I call for a regular debate every quarter on the North. In this way we could clarify many issues, including, for example, the one raised by Senator Hannigan about what will happen when digital television services are introduced. My understanding is that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, has been working with his Northern counterpart to introduce a solution, whereby RTE will be carried on Northern platforms. I call for what is missing in my area to be dealt with on a reciprocal basis. The signal received in County Donegal is mainly received from Limavady. I spoke with someone recently who told me that the signal was so bad that the cows in "Emmerdale" were appearing on "Coronation Street". There is an issue to be dealt with in this regard.

I commend Senator Quinn for his contribution last week to a North-South business platform on Dawson Street. We need more of this and more of what is being done on a cross-Border basis. It should not only be shared among ourselves but also by business people in order that everyone is united and driving forward. There are a lot of people and a lot of wheels but we do not have enough opportunities. The allocation of eight or ten minutes tomorrow will not be enough to scratch the surface. While I accept it is important that a debate will take place, we must have such a debate on a regular basis because there is a good deal happening. However, many other things must happen. We have the power to co-ordinate and convey some of this information.