Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Bacik, Boyle, Coffey, Callely, O'Reilly, Quinn, Coghlan and Mullen expressed their concerns about the visit of the chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank to the committee yesterday. I point out to the House that it is a fact that the €22 billion has not been paid over. It is in the form of promissory notes, but the advice given by the new chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, whom we all know and trust and who has made an immense contribution to public life in Ireland, is that we start a small business bank, as Senator Quinn rightly suggested, the equivalent of ICC bank. That would be a profitable bank, as we are all aware was the case with ICC. He referred to the immense importance of that being set up and that there could be a nil liability over the years all being well and with all the regulation now being put in place. Our counterparts in the United Kingdom made an announcement this morning on regulation in their banking system. There is a transformation in the banking system worldwide.

I share the view of Senator Callely who congratulated the National Treasury Management Agency on its success this week and the call for an investigation into the role of the Department of Finance and the need to have a debate on that in the House. Senator O'Toole was strong in his views on that last Tuesday in terms of accountability and the public record of official instruction being available at any time. I have no difficulty in having time left aside to allow this issue be discussed. I remind the House that I was disappointed on Tuesday because I allocated three hours for statements on the banking reports but the debate fell before the time was up. It is an exceptional week and I understand the circumstances.

Senators O'Toole, Bacik, Boyle, Norris, Buttimer, Hanafin and Mullen raised recent issues concerning the Civil Partnership Bill. I fully agree with freedom of expression. Those bishops who want to give their opinion to their congregations are free and correct to do so. It would be a terrible country if we only had one opinion and dictatorship. However, the Dáil and the Seanad, as legislators, have a duty to carry out the programme for Government. As the deputy leader pointed out, the Bill is at an advanced Stage in the Dáil. It will be in the Seanad in due course.

During all my years as a Member of both the Seanad and the Dáil, I have acknowledged on many occasions that Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú has been an outstanding Irishman and contributor in Seanad Éireann.

Senators Bacik, Leyden, Mullen, Dearey and Keaveney welcomed the partial opening of the blockade in Gaza. They also congratulated everyone involved in and associated with the MV Rachel Corrie. I have no difficulty with a debate on Israel's role in the blockade. Like Senator Leyden, I too want to acknowledge those nine Turkish people who gave their lives for their strong beliefs in the cause. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has been exemplary in his steadfastness to see justice will be brought to bear in human rights issues in Gaza.

Senators Coffey, Buttimer, Quinn, Callely, Ó Brolcháin and Hanafin called for a debate on job creation. This is one of the most important debates we could have in the House. I will endeavour to have this take place before the summer recess. The Seanad will sit a week after the Dáil and this debate could include EU redundancy arrangements which Senator Coffey brought to our attention this morning. His recent visit to Europe has borne fruit. The €2.9 million from the European globalisation fund for Waterford Crystal workers is a godsend. All political parties in the Waterford area have played their part in this. This fund could also benefit many other groups affected by redundancy and I will make inquires about it in the Department after this morning's Order of Business.

Senator Leyden called for an urgent debate on how opinion polls are compiled. Those Members who were present in the House at 1.30 a.m. one morning debating banning opinion polls a week before elections will remember how the House played an important role in ensuring opinion polls could not be published on the day of polling. We have not seen the Bill since then. Interestingly, yesterday the Ipsos-MRBI survey company announced it will review the adjustments it makes to its poll data and will introduce a new approach for its next poll. Senator Leyden had a point and we will have a debate on opinion polls.