Feargal Quinn (Independent)

While offering best wishes to those doing their examinations, I remind the House that the leaving certificate applied examinations are also taking place today. I mention this because a number of State bodies do not recognise this curriculum and there is a necessity to debate this issue.

Every Member received a copy of the Order Paper in an envelope in his or her pigeon hole. I do not understand this. I have raised previously the volume of paper used by the House for no purpose. The envelope was sealed, addressed and placed in my pigeon hole. We could make significant savings in this regard.

Senator Norris raised the threat to a number of regional airports. One issue was raised in the very good debate we had on tourism last week. The people of the island of Kyushu in Japan - businessmen, bureaucrats and academics - got together, not to subsidise the airport but to subsidise the passengers. They went to towns in China, Taiwan, Korea and elsewhere to encourage people to fly to Kyushu. They were offering for sale a €1,000 voucher that could be used in shops, hotels or medical services on the island which has eight airports. The initiative has been a great success. The reason I raise it is because it was not the Government that did it. Some people say the Government should subsidise the airports but it was the people themselves, those in business who said they would encourage tourism by offering people the chance to buy a €1,000 voucher. That is the kind of thinking we need here. Let us stop saying the Government should do this or that. Perhaps it is time for us to get up and do something ourselves. This is a very good opportunity to do so.

I support Senator Crown's point about Bahrain and the doctors there. I was horrified to hear what is taking place. Senator Ó Murchú agreed entirely with the point. He said the Seanad is the place where we can draw attention to what is happening there. The situation has been described very well. It is a tradition that those who give aid to those who have been injured in any sort of conflict are not criticised or put in prison for it. This House can do something about that. I support Senator Crown.