Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I too welcome the Kenyan delegation. I sympathise with the Leader of the House on being unable to get a Minister to come to the House tomorrow morning. I am not surprised by this because the majority of Ministers now conduct constituency tours on Wednesdays.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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The Opposition does a fair bit of that itself.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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That is not relevant to the Order of Business.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I presume that is the reason the Leader cannot get a Minister. It is disgraceful that we cannot proceed in the morning because we do not have a Minister available.

Will the Leader arrange for a debate on Aer Lingus? It is almost four months since Mr. Willie Walsh handed in his notice and we need an urgent debate to discuss the future of Aer Lingus.

Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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I support the call for a debate on the future of Aer Lingus. As Senator Finucane correctly pointed out, it is more than four months since its chief executive resigned in controversial circumstances and a decision on his replacement has not been made. Time is of the essence. The future viability of the company will be undermined unless a decision is made.

I refer to the issue of children who are taken into care. I was contacted by a woman earlier who has been through the wringer over the past year because a spurious allegation was made against her that her children were being abused and neglected. She asked what redress was open to her given that, at the end of the day, she has gone through a year of turmoil and upset but the person who made the allegation cannot be named by the authorities. While the correct procedures are in place, unfortunately great upset is being caused by such allegations, which are made by people who may lack information or who may not like the individuals about whom they complain. The Minister for Health and Children should come to the House to outline what procedures need to be changed to ensure this will not happen again.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Finucane, the acting leader of the Opposition, asked——

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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He is deputy leader.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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The Leader, to reply without interruption.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Acting leader is the correct protocol.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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He is no actor.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Finucane asked for a debate on the Travers report, which we will not receive until tomorrow but I do not know at what time. I take the Senator's point and we will have an opportunity to discuss it.

Senator O'Toole also referred to this report. He suggested that the debate on it could be taken later but Oireachtas Members will not the report until tomorrow. It would be premature to have a debate this evening. The Senator also brought up the matter of unqualified teachers. I heard a good debate on RTE radio between John Carr and a young woman who had qualified as a teacher but was finding it difficult to get a job. The Senator issued a warning about what could happen on the matter, particularly in the context of the Constitution.

Senator O'Meara reminded us that it is International Women's Day and she applauded the McCartney sisters. She also raised the issue of BreastCheck, which can identify breast cancer early, and we should debate it. She also referred to the Travers report.

Senator Dardis referred to the Health (Amendment) Bill, while Senator Coghlan sought a debate on insurance costs.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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And the Competition Authority report.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Glynn called for debates on fishing and type 2 diabetes.

Senator Norris mentioned the Human Rights Commission report and I would very much like to read and debate it.

Senator Ulick Burke raised the case of the four autistic children who were taken into care. I only know what I have read but I am sure there are many sides to that case and my hope is that the children will be best served and well looked after through whatever care is given to them.

Senator Leyden also referred to the Travers report and the care of autistic children. Senator Daly sought a debate on the budget of acute hospitals. Senator Quinn raised the issue of hospital cleanliness and variation in practices. I agree with him completely.

Senator Hanafin requested a debate on the Human Rights Commission report and the more important debate on human life, about which he feels strongly.

Senator Bannon commented on disquiet about the Travers report. We all deal with it in our clinics but I am sure he has read the newspaper reports. We talk about solicitors ambulance chasing. However, far more serious things are happening now which I thought I would never see. Public representatives have sought to hold clinics on the matter. Personally, I find that an appalling way to conduct business.

James Bannon (Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, Senators do not hold clinics on that issue. The general public visit them to raise it and that is a reflection on the Government.

Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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That is not a point of order. I call the Leader without interruption.

Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
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I spoke not of Senators but of public representatives. That was the wording I used. However, they are fellows of the Senator.

Senator Ó Murchú wished to discuss the new planning guidelines. He has asked for a debate on them previously and we will seek to have the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, attend the House. Senator Browne raised the home education grant to children who, for one reason or another, cannot attend a general educational facility. We could invite the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. It would be a good matter for debate on the Adjournment, if the Senator does not mind my saying so.

Senator Bradford called for a debate on Sudan. As soon as next week's business has been completed, we will seek to hold one on Darfur. Senator Kitt raised the western rail line, as did Senator O'Toole and others last week. I believe that the report is to be published shortly, and as soon as we receive it, we will debate it.

Senator Paddy Burke called for a report on Aer Lingus. I might point out that the matter is not with the Minister. The Bill was to come before the House tomorrow morning. However, so many amendments have been tabled to the Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 that the Civil Service was unable to assemble it all for tomorrow morning, when it was to be dealt with. I have no difficulty in getting Ministers to attend the House. I do not mean that they are falling over themselves to do so, but I pursue them in the correct manner, as does my office.

Senator Feighan raised the issue of Aer Lingus and children taken into care. He seems to have a particular case in mind. Such matters, I have found from personal experience, make for very sensitive and delicate cases. When one considers it in the round and takes all the facts into account, there is no "one size fits all" solution. Individual cases have individual circumstances. I know the Senator will understand that point. They are very delicate and, while I know that the Senator would not do so, they do not warrant the immediate taking of sides. It is often the case that many matters are involved.

The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005 is of course on Committee Stage, so there are no set times for speaking. I mistakenly said that, but one speaks on an amendment.