Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and in respect of the important service the firefighters provide for the public on a daily basis.

Senator Paul Coghlan outlined that there are 34 Border crossing points in the Dundalk Garda region and that 17 years after the peace process, there should be no perceived no-go areas. This is a point Senator Quinn also has mentioned. Fuel smuggling has been going on for far too long and as I heard someone say yesterday, if the intelligence services of the United Kingdom can find Osama bin Laden in a cave, it should be easy for them to find out where this diesel laundering is happening. I do not suggest that a blind eye is being shown to it but it has been going on for far too long. It should be addressed and tackled as a matter of urgency because it is clearly evident that the criminals who are involved in this illegal activity are living in houses and have a standard of living that far outweighs the income coming into their houses. Consequently, it should not be rocket science to tackle this problem.

Senator Quinn is correct to state that sentencing policy is not strong enough and the fines involved are far too low for this type of activity. I have asked the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Harris, to come into the House to address this matter. I hope he may be in a position to do so next week but if not, it will be very soon thereafter. I compliment Senator Paul Coghlan and his committee in the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly on the comprehensive report the committee prepared on this matter.

I believe I have addressed the two issues mentioned by Senator Cullinane, namely, the debate on health that is taking place today and the discussion by the Oireachtas joint committee on bus services. He also raised a question regarding post offices and I will reiterate a point I have mentioned many times. In the four or five years before the present Government came to office, hundreds of post offices were closed nationwide. Since the present Administration has come to office, fewer than 20 post offices have been closed. I believe these statistics are sufficient to prove that the Government is committed to the post office network and is doing everything possible to put business its way. However, there is competition and the post offices themselves must also seek and find ways to get extra business.

Senator Comiskey welcomed the announcement this morning on the €800 million in funding for the PEACE programme. Such funding is of great importance to rural Ireland and the rural communities in Border areas, particularly in respect of employment. I am sure it will be welcomed by all rural communities but particularly in those Border areas. Senator Colm Burke spoke on contracts for legal firms and the two sets of rules within the legal service. I fully agree with the Senator that companies that are representing tobacco companies should make up their mind on whether they wish to represent or compete for Government contracts while representing tobacco companies. The Government and the Minister for Children and Youth affairs, Deputy Reilly, in particular have been strong on this issue. He has suggested that companies which represent tobacco companies should not be getting contracts within his Department.

Senator Mullins welcomed the Central Statistics Office figures on employment in particular and raised the need to develop the apprenticeship system. That is very important at this time when there is a need to develop such skills and when so many people are unemployed.It is an issue which we should debate again.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan referred to the grant aid of €487,000 given to Cricket Ireland this year.