Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

-----and that all parties will take it into account.

I join with colleagues in thanking you, a Chathaoirligh, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Burke the Clerk and the Clerk Assistant, Deirdre and Jody, and all the team around them who make the Seanad so efficient and work so well. I thank the Captain of the Guard, John, and all his staff, our Superintendent and the press, including Mr. Jimmy Walsh and all the team on "Oireachtas Report", for all they have done for the Seanad. I wish everyone well. Standing for election, be it for the Dáil or the Seanad, is certainly a challenge. It takes someone with great courage to put their name on a ballot paper and go before the people for their approval. I wish everyone well and thank everyone for their co-operation, friendship and, most importantly, their contributions, from the party leaders who met with me every Tuesday to the Whips, and our Government Whip in particular, Senator Diarmuid Wilson, and his assistant, Senator Camillus Glynn. I thank all colleagues who helped in any way to make this Seanad the success it was.

Relating to guillotining Bills, only three Bills were guillotined, one of which is the Bill before us today, but it is an all-party decision that this would be the case. As is clear on the Order Paper, everyone is getting ample time, two full days, to debate it, and I thank colleagues for their support in that regard.

Senators O'Toole and Coghlan raised the issue of Aer Lingus. I wish everyone well in their deliberations. It is good to have a job in Ireland at the present time and in terms of the hard-working dedicated staff who have flown the flag for Aer Lingus around the world and have been terrific ambassadors, I hope that all their problems, with the understanding of management, can come to a successful conclusion.

Senator Mary White raised the issue of health services and the increases in health charges. There is a serious job in regard to health charges. Aviva, VHI, Quinn Insurance and all those companies are giving cover but there is a huge saving to be achieved in terms of the costs being charged. The former Minister, Deputy Harney, started to address that and was successful in reducing the cost of drugs and medication. I am on a particular medication. The container costs €43 which lasts for three weeks but one particular hospital unit in Ireland is charging €147 for that same container. That is outrageous when we have poor people out of work and looking to keep their families. This carry-on must not be allowed to continue.