Dan Boyle (Green Party)

But not this morning. In that regard, I point Members to the comments of President John F. Kennedy on defined political practice. He distinguished between the holding of personal religious beliefs and issues of conscience and the responsibilities of a public representative of all the people. When we debate this Bill, those principles should help to inform it. There is already legislation with which many of us would have conscientious issues. As people who form the law and have a responsibility for law already enacted, we have a responsibility to act on that conscience in a legal and responsible way for all the citizens of the country. I look forward to that debate. It is a necessary debate and must happen. I will share my views with those who are expressing concern on conscientious grounds.

Senator Mullen raised the question of the unwillingness of the Israeli ambassador to come before a joint committee. The ambassador was called before the Minister for Foreign Affairs earlier in the week. There is grave dissatisfaction with the actions of the Israeli Government and ongoing concern about Irish citizens, either detained in Israel or in transit to the Middle East, and the actions the Israeli defence forces might take on the arrival of the Rachel Corrie . The House is right to be concerned and to put its reservations on record.

Senators Keaveney and Glynn raised the question of head shops. Following the new regulations, the number of head shops has fallen from 130 to approximately 36. The approach being taken, of regulating the types of products that can be sold in head shops, is correct. If there is need to refine that approach I have no doubt the Minister for Health and Children will do so with regard to dangerous products.

Senators Burke and Leyden referred to planning regulations for septic tanks. Under the water directive, the Government was granted a derogation on regulations regarding waste water from rural housing. This is a difficult situation and dealing with it will be costly. I am confident the Minister for the Environment, Heritage an Local Government is dealing with it in an informed way. When a decision needs to be made that will be done in consultation with Members of the House. I believe the Minister would be willing to discuss the matter in the House. We may have an opportunity to do so before we rise for the summer, if the Dáil has dealt with the Planning and Development Bill and it comes back to this House for final approval.

Senator Ross raised the matter of Anglo Irish Bank appointments and Senators Coghlan and Phelan also raised concerns about this and the recent decisions regarding EBS. We will have an opportunity to debate the reports submitted by Mr. Regling and Mr. Watson and by the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Patrick Honohan, on the nature of the banking crisis. I hope and expect that those reports can be made public within the coming weeks and that the House will have an opportunity of discussing them.

Senator Glynn also mentioned the question of being prepared for flooding. The final debate on the Planning and Development Bill will give an opportunity of discussing that matter. Senators Cummins and Coffey asked about the Rosslare-Waterford line, citing the example of the achievements that have been happening in the western corridor railway line. I share their concerns and believe there is a logic in keeping our railway lines open. There are cost issues involved and sadly there has been a small take up of passenger numbers on that particular line, although-----