Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Boyle, Quinn and Walsh referred to the Construction Contracts Bill. I will examine that and see if we can have that Bill passed in this House before the lifetime of the 27th Seanad. It is only fair and right. We all support Senator Quinn in this House. It is not a contentious issue. Second Stage has been concluded. The Minister for Finance has done everything he possibly can. Senator Quinn met with the Attorney General and his team. I will see how I can get that Bill through this House for the new Government's deliberations. I ask colleagues on the other side of the House who may be in Government, and I know Senator Quinn has their full support also.

Senator Coghlan raised the issue of the tourism industry report published yesterday and referred to the hope that 20,000 jobs can be created in the coming years. The industry is going through an extremely difficult time. There are sections in the Bill before the House today that could create difficulties but I welcome the report and congratulate Mr. McKeown and everyone who has worked so hard to get the report published yesterday.

Senator Callely called for a review of human rights in Ireland and the conference that is taking place on that. I take note of the Senator's support for human rights.

Senator Buttimer called for a debate on appointments to boards, which is timely. The example of the last Fine Gael Government, which appointed 148 of its cronies to all these boards in the three weeks before the change of Government, did not do much to help it either.