Seanad report:The HSE had advised that a total of 14 single rooms for cystic fibrosis patients would be provided at St Vincent's hospital, Dublin, by the end of the summer, Minister of State Pat The Cope Gallagher told the House.
"The HSE is fast-tracking the redevelopment of a ward which is adjacent to the main cystic fibrosis treatment area. The project is to commence within the next few weeks and will provide six single rooms. On completion, additional work will begin to provide a further eight single rooms," he said.
The Minister was replying to Deirdre de Burca (GP) who had asked what Minister for Health Mary Harney's intentions were regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Pollock Report commissioned by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and published in 2005.
Leader of the House Donie Cassidy made a strong appeal to the Real IRA not to re-engage in a campaign of violence. He said the goal that the generation of 1916 had fought to achieve was "happening much quicker by peaceful means".
Historic progress was being made. "The Taoiseach had travelled to Ballymena last week to meet the First Minister, Ian Paisley. Who would have thought 10 years - or even five years - ago that that was possible?"
David Norris (Ind) said earlier that the House should unite in condemning the so-called Real IRA for coming out and saying that they were going to re-open their campaign.
The banning by Aer Lingus of announcements in Irish on their Belfast service cast an unfair reflection on the unionist community in the North of Ireland, Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) said.
He said the airline had an unhappy knack of inviting bad publicity. The perception was being put out that in some way the ban was intended to allay the fears, or to take on board, the sensitivities of the unionist community.
His experience of that community in the past was that they were a very cultured people.
"They have a great regard for tradition and I don't honestly believe that anybody would decide whether or not they would travel with Aer Lingus just because a few words of the Irish language were being used."
Seanad leader Donie Cassidy said he would pass on the views of the House on this matter to the airline's chief executive.
Mary White (FF) exhorted the Government to learn from the success of John McCain in the battle to become the Republican candidate for the US presidency. At the age of 71, Mr McCain was consolidating his position as the leading candidate for his party's nomination, she noted.
If he became president he would be 72 on taking office. But if he was an Irish citizen he would not be allowed to serve on a jury here.
Why, Ms White asked, were our older citizens being deprived of an opportunity to give their experience in terms of jury service when Mr McCain could still be president by the time he reached his late 70s?