Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

First, I take the opportunity to call for a debate on the Common Fisheries Policy. The Minister of State, Deputy Connick, was in Spain earlier this week where he discussed the Common Fisheries Policy review with other fisheries Ministers. With the submission made by the Irish Government in February of this year to the European Commission, it would be timely now to discuss the common fisheries policy. This policy is critically important to the fishing waters around Ireland and to the coastal communities. I commend the Minister and his predecessor, the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, for taking on board submissions made by coastal communities that are now central to the submission made by Ireland. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on this policy as quickly as possible to ensure Members can influence the future direction being taken.

Second, I support Senators Bradford and Wilson in their call for a debate on Northern Ireland. That is timely given what is happening in the North. There could be a hung Parliament in the United Kingdom and parties may depend on votes in the North to prop up the new administration, which would have profound effects on North-South co-operation and relations and also Dublin-London relations. We must take all of those issues into consideration. We should have a debate on that issue if not next week then the week after. The Leader might allow two or three hours for the debate to ensure all Members could express their views, with the relevant Minister in the House.