I will convey Senator Wright's comments on the TEAM Aer Lingus crisis to the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications.
On the surface Senator O'Toole's invitation to have a debate on education looks very reasonable. Everything he says looks reasonable on the surface. However, Senator Magner made a good point by saying that it may not be in the best interest to have that debate next week if industrial action is taking place. I will consult with Senator O'Toole to see if we can find some formula on the matter. Sometimes it is better to have such debates a week after a period when tempers may be a little on the high side, although Senator O'Toole would never be in that category.
Senator Henry asked for a debate on hepatitis. This raises a problem which we will have to address. One of the reasons for the committee system is that a great deal of work can be delegated from the Houses and issues can be discussed by committees. There has already been a full discussion in a committee on this issue, which the Minister attended. I will ask him to come back to the House if it wants the issued discussed, as Senator Henry and Senator Honan clearly do. We need to bear in mind that we should use the committee system not to duplicate but to delegate work and allow specialist groups to discuss issues. This is one of the intentions of the committee system.
I agree with Senator Howard on the Cork-Roscoff issue and compliment the Minister for the Marine, Deputy Coveney, on his efforts to sort it out. I pay tribute to the EU Commissioner, Mr. Pádraig Flynn, on this matter. It was a very good example of Irish groups working together to overturn a ruling by the Roscoff authorities which went firmly in the face of free competition. I hope it will further help the tourist season.
Senator Roche raised the issues of NATO and the Western European Union. There will be no change of Government policy and no movement without both Houses being fully consulted and their consent given. However, I agree there is need for a major debate on NATO, the Western European Union, defence, neutrality and so on. We have a crowded schedule and there are other issues which I have promised will be dealt with first, but I will look at this request as sympathetically as I can.
I do not think a debate today on Packard would be useful. Everything that can be done is being done and I do not think we have anything to offer which has not been said already. I hope some sort of reason will prevail on all sides.
I join in the good wishes of Senator Quinn and all in the House to Senator Haughey. Senator Wilson cheered us all up with the good news of what is happening in Northern Ireland. There will be a debate on Northern Ireland on 1 June. I will communicate with Senator Neville and Senator Calnan on the issues they raised.