Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

On Wednesday the House will debate the Croke Park agreement. The debate on the national economy was wide-ranging and everyone was able to discuss issues concerning their various portfolios. That is why I included it in the agenda for the first week of the session. Debates will centre on each individual portfolio, starting with the Common Agricultural Policy on Tuesday and the Croke Park agreement on Wednesday. I know of the level of interest in the latter topic and expect the debate to roll over to the following week. If any colleague wants to have a debate on any portfolio, I will have no difficulty in endeavouring to have it take place.

I watched yesterday's committee's proceedings on "Oireachtas Report" last night, during which Senator Ross raised his point on waste in CIE. There is no problem if he wants to have the issue he raised at the committee debated in the House. I do not stifle debate, rather I encourage it. I encourage all colleagues to participate in debates.

Senators Ó Murchú and Hannigan outlined the need for partnership in politics, reiterating the remarks made by Senators Bradford and MacSharry last week. Senator Ó Murchú has vast experience and makes a large contribution to debates in this House. He is one Senator whom everyone loves to hear addressing the House. I will do everything I possibly can to broaden the proposals he made this morning, as well as Senator Hannigan's on the Irish Diaspora.

Senator Mooney called for a debate on rural post offices with the Minister for Social Protection. I will have no difficulty in arranging such a debate in the near future.

Senator Donohoe raised the matter of the clearing of the backlog created by the strike in the Passport Office at a cost of €1.74 million in overtime payments. The Passport Office is self-financing and makes a substantial profit. I accept the Senator's point about the excuse made that many of those who left the country for the millennium in 2000 had to have their passports renewed this year. Extra staff, however, had to be taken on to deal with the backlog in order that constituents and customers could obtain passports to leave the country. The Passport Office is one of the public offices making a substantial contribution to the Exchequer.

Senators Mary White and Hannigan raised the fact that next Sunday is World Mental Health Day. I again compliment Senator Mary White on bringing this to the attention of the House. I also compliment the youngest councillor in Cork, Councillor O'Shea. As Senator White said, there will be a convention in Duhallow on these important issues. She also referred to the difficulties being experienced by many families because of suicide. We will do anything we can to help and assist. This House has no difficulty in having the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, come back here as he has done on many occasions. He has been completely supportive of this House since he became a Minister of State.

Senator Norris expressed his strong views on the need to re-negotiate with Shell, in particular with regard to what is happening off the west coast, to see if the Exchequer can benefit further. While it is something we must consider for the future, I do not know whether we can do anything retrospectively. I will pass the views of the Senator on to the Minister. The Senator also proposed that the 1926 census figures be made available. As we all know, in particular those of us in the tourism sector, and I have a vested interest in this area, it is a huge tourist attraction. The interest of families coming to Ireland to meet their cousins, relatives and friends, and the excitement that generates, is unbelievable. There is huge potential in that idea, from a tourism point of view. I would have no difficulty in making this an all-party motion. We can discuss this in the House in the next two to three weeks.

Senators Buttimer, Quinn and McDonald called for a debate on the role of quangos. Senator Quinn called for a debate on the 30,000 threshold for membership of Dáil Éireann. We can discuss that in the future.

Senator MacSharry called for a debate on employment, in particular on internships, and the suggestions of the Social Justice Ireland group. Father Sean Healy made a proposal which Senator Ó Murchú and I have been working on with the Minister for the past two months. We hope to have something at a very advanced stage on which the Minister can make a major announcement soon. This is the possibility of creating 100,000 jobs for people to return to work within 12 months. It is something we owe to the younger generation to give them hope to get out of bed in the morning and have something to do in the day during this very difficult time. Senator MacSharry referred to how best the National Pensions Reserve Fund can be put to good use. He also outlined his proposals for a pilot scheme to see how SMEs can assist in this area.

Senator Hanafin referred to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, and the difficulties being experienced by the people of Hungary with toxic waste. He referred in particular to the scenes we have seen on our television screens which showed the devastating effect it is having on the environment in that country. It shows what can happen. It is something worthwhile and on which we should have a debate in the House.

Senator Hanafin also called for a debate on Northern Ireland and the difficulties being experienced there, in particular the bomb in Derry the other night. It is alarming and those of us who are going to Newcastle later today to meet our counterparts in the Northern Ireland Assembly will discuss and deliberate on that. I have no difficulty in having the matter discussed in the House.