Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I will take a look at the diary to see if I can allow for this debate to take place at an early time.

Senators Ó Brolcháin, Mooney, Hannigan, Walsh, Keaveney and Phelan called for an update in regard to the difficulties being experienced by the aviation industry. Senator Mooney correctly pointed out to the House that this is an important issue in the national interest. The chief executive officer of Aer Arann appeared on television last night and the benefit of his experience and expertise in this regard, as given to the nation, should be looked at. It is my intention to have the Minister come to the House during the next couple of days to update it on the challenges facing Government and the entire country, in particular in regard to exports. I pay tribute to those responsible airlines which have been taking care of Irish people caught up in this unbelievable situation. I heard that one airline has been since last Thursday taking care of 190 Irish passengers stranded in Madrid. What has happened is an act of God. I was delighted to hear that good news story today.

Senator Ormonde called for an urgent debate on FÁS and the huge amount of resources the Government is putting into it to retrain and upskill our young people and those who are unemployed so they will be ready for the upturn in the economy in a few years time. This is a matter on which this House should have a lengthy debate and I intend to invite the Minister to the House in this regard in the near future.

Senators Hannigan and Coghlan asked about the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill which, I understand, will come before the House this session and also includes sections in relation to the election of the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Government's proposal to hold the election at the end of this year or early next year. I am sure we all share Senator Buttimer's concerns as expressed today and on other occasions in relation to people who are unemployed. One's heart must go out to the 427,000 people concerned. It is the duty of Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas to do everything possible to ensure these people are given an opportunity to upskill and retrain.

Senator Walsh asked about the privacy Bill. I will make inquiries and report back to the House later in the week in regard to when it will come before the House. I agree with Senator Walsh's comments in regard to corporate governance and ethics in government. We can take up this issue with the Minister for Finance when he returns to the House. Senator Dearey called on the regulator to include Goldman Sachs in its inquiry. I will pass on the Senator's strong views to the Minister for Finance. Senator Mullen again called for a debate in regard to the provision of stroke care units in our hospitals. It is alarming that only 11 hospitals have a stroke care unit. I have no difficulty in including this for debate with the Minister for Health and Children when she comes to the House. Senator Keaveney again called for a debate on obesity and what we can do to assist young children, including supporting those who are out walking and cycling in the current good weather. I fully agree with the Senator's sentiments in this regard.