Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and colleagues. In reply to Senator Warfield, I am certain the Department of Social Protection will respond, when it can, to the accusations and, in particular and more importantly, to the results of a finding by the Data Protection Commission. I will certainly pass on the Senator's message and I will see if I can seek a response for him.

Senator Kyne and Senator Casey both brought up relevant issues on the same topic, so I may ask for a debate on rural transport. Senator Casey's request was to look for interlinking within a town and Senator Kyne made a very logical suggestion that we should have more spaces and places where people can actually stop to pick up the service instead of having to get into a car to go to a bus stop, which makes no sense whatsoever. We will ask that that debate combines both of those requests.I say to Senators O'Sullivan, Byrne and Craughwell, while not commenting on any of the comments, that there is a Barbra Streisand effect here given that a public consultation, which would have probably gone over most people in this country's heads and to which they would not have paid much attention, is now the focus of much conversation at many breakfast tables, which I think is ultimately the Tánaiste's aim. It is really welcome.

I cannot tell Senator O'Sullivan how pleased I am this morning. What disappoints me are the comments he made regarding the reaction from some people. This is a huge step forward by the Tánaiste and by the shared island group to try to bring unity in certain aspects of our country where we can co-operate and where we benefit. My daughter tried to go to Ulster University in Derry a number of years ago to do nursing. A huge number of students from the Republic of Ireland travel to the North of Ireland and we should be seen to support them-----