Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Legislation must take precedence and next week, as was the case this week, a number of Bills will come to the House.

Senators Fitzgerald, Leyden and Callely referred to the Health Service Executive reports that are pending. I listened to both sides attentively in that regard and look forward to their publication. The constitutionality concerns of the HSE must also be taken into account but I know many colleagues in the House wish to have this report brought to our attention and discussed in the House. As soon as the report is published, I hope to have it for their consideration in the House within a few short weeks.

Senator Mooney raised the issue of Irish foreign affairs policy and our role within the European Union and expressed his concerns in that regard. I have no difficulty in passing those on to the Minister for Foreign Affairs with a view to seeing how we can progress his proposal.

Senator Healy Eames called for a debate on literacy and quality in education. I have no difficulty in allocating time for that.

Senator O'Sullivan referred to the good news that 500 new jobs are to be created to work on the gas supply line at Tarbert. He called on the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to come to the House to discuss the energy hub at Shannon Estuary and everything pertaining to that part of the country. I will have no difficulty in arranging a debate on the matter in the very near future.

Senator Cannon called for a debate on the green economy. Such a debate would be timely on one of the central parts of the programme for Government. I will have no difficulty in arranging a debate on wind power, wave power and every related issue, apart from oil for which we have paid dearly for many years.

Senator Quinn outlined the high container charges and the fact that by 2011 all exports to the United States would have to be scanned. I will have no difficulty with the issue being discussed at a future date. The Senator also referred to the successful conference he attended yesterday in which the Taoiseach participated. Certainly, for most of the self-employed there is no such thing as a retirement age. I fully agree with the sentiments expressed by the Senator. As 75% of all businesses in Ireland are family run, everyone will have to step into line for them to remain competitive.

Senator Callely called for a debate on the issue of competitiveness. This is the greatest challenge facing the country. If it is overcome, the country will be well placed to witness an uplift in the economy and a return to buoyancy which we all experienced in the past ten or 12 years.

Senators McFadden and Dearey mentioned the Gillian Fallon case. I share their sentiments and will consult the Minister's office after the Order of Business. I will come back to the two Senators on the case.

Senator Ó Domhnaill outlined his serious concern about head shops and complimented the Government on banning various substances. The debate on head shops which commenced in the House last week will be continued next week. For those colleagues who were disappointed not to have an opportunity to make their contribution the matter is to be discussed in the House again.

Senator Ó Domhnaill also mentioned the ongoing activities north of the Border and the young man who had lost his life in Derry. I will certainly convey his serious concerns to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Those of us who attended the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Cavan last week came away extremely confident, given the close working arrangements and co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána. Please God, such occurrences will be rare in the future, rather than being the order of the day, as they were in the past 30 years.

Senator Buttimer called for a debate on the national plan to deal with rare diseases. I will convey the Senator's strong views on the issue to the Minister for Health and Children. We can debate it in the House with the Minister present at a future date.

Senator Donohoe mentioned social welfare recipients, persons who were unemployed and unable to work. I will contact the Minister's office about the matter and get back to the Senator in the afternoon.