Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Quinn spoke on Seanad reform. He is quite right: we have several documents on the list or Order Paper at present. However, the Taoiseach has come to the House and stated emphatically that he is committed to legislating for the decision of the people taken in 1979. He is proceeding with that. I imagine there will be many other procedures that will have to be changed in the House for reform of the system. We look forward to debating that in the coming months. We also look forward to the Government proposals in that regard.

Reference was made to the Bill on presumed consent for organ donations. I note the Human Tissue Bill is on the Government list, but it is certainly not down for the coming months. I will ask the Minister for Health again for the position. He gave a commitment that we would have that in the first part of the year.

It is on the C list of the Government's legislative programme, so I would not be hopeful that it will be dealt with in the first half of the year.

Senator Coghlan complimented the quiet diplomacy of Mr. Cooney and the papal nuncio regarding the reopening of the Vatican embassy. He also outlined his concerns about the dispute at Liebherr in Killarney. That company is so important to employment in Killarney and Kerry in general that I hope all parties come together and solve this outstanding matter as a matter of urgency.