Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

The Senator is a loyal dedicated colleague.

Senator MacSharry spoke about the Hugh Cooney report and the group charged with the responsibility of bringing before the Houses of the Oireachtas an up to date account on the MacSharry report and the various other proposals that were before the House for this group's consideration. I will make inquiries about this.

Senator Ó Brolcháin called for a debate on cycling. This is wonderful weather for anybody to get out and there is no excuse except to enjoy the proposal the Senator made to the House. I have no difficulty in our discussing this at a future date.

Senator Norris complimented the Road Safety Authority. As Senators O'Toole and Coghlan and many other colleagues who sat on the committee for enterprise, trade and small business know, when we worked on the insurance inquiry under my chairmanship, we started to take seriously what could be done in the matter of road deaths. We now have the Road Safety Authority whose chief executive and chairman can take credit for what was done but the real foundation stone on which road safety was built was that committee's insurance inquiry.

At that time there were 550 Garda personnel in the dedicated traffic corps. That committee got a commitment from the then Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, to increase the number over a four year period to 1,200, as it stands today. It was that committee which proposed that random breath testing be introduced. All other committees shirked that responsibility over many years. In fairness to the former Minister, Martin Cullen, within two weeks he had that proposal through the Cabinet sub-committee and it became legislation. That is the cornerstone and foundation of road safety as it is today. I am very proud to be Leader of Seanad Éireann and be able to say I was a former chairman of that committee because 41 fewer lives have been lost in this country in recent years. The committee never got the credit for this and I surely did not get it when I went to the polls in County Westmeath at the last general election. Be that as it may, however, it was the right thing to do and right and courageous decisions were made by that committee at that time. I am proud to say I was the Chairman and the colleagues who served with me on that committee also deserve great credit.

Senator Norris spoke of the announcement about Dr. Lydia Foy and everything to do with the hard fight and courageous fight she took on over many years. I shall make inquiries about when this legislation may be taken.

Senator Callely called for reports to be made available to colleagues in the Oireachtas when we debate very serious issues. As I said in the House last week, I understand these reports are made available in the Library on the day they are published. There are 33 colleagues in the library who are there to assist us in every way we need when we are preparing submissions for both Houses. I acknowledge again on the Order of Business the great contribution they have made in recent years. I shall update my information and make inquiries after this Order of Business. My understanding is that all these services are available to Members of the Dáil and the Seanad to help them formulate information and get up to date reports for the debates that take place.

Senator Hanafin spoke about church leaders and the Civil Partnership Bill. Church leaders have a responsibility to look after the faithful and their flock. I fully agree with the Senator's sentiments. He spoke about growth and the forecast for the coming year, the public service and the immense contribution it is making by way of a big hit in salary, for which it is to be commended. As Senator Carroll noted, the Croke Park agreement was possibly the most significant announcement we have seen in the lifetime of this Seanad and the 30th Dáil. I will allow time at the earliest opportunity so that we can review the findings of the agreement and see how we can enhance them, with the Minister present.

Senator Phelan called for a debate on care for the elderly which I fully support. Many colleagues made a contribution when the Minister for Health and Children was present and the subject might be included when she returns to the House over the next two weeks.

Senator McDonald asked about the timing of the Civil Partnership Bill. I understand the Bill will be in the Dáil soon and on its conclusion in that House will be introduced to the Seanad. We will order it to be taken at the earliest opportunity, as we always do when a Bill is concluded in the Dáil.

I join Senator Bacik in congratulating the people at Waterford Crystal on this, their opening day. I wish them well in the future.