Seanad Report: Calling on the British authorities to co-operate with the inquiries into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane, Mr Don Lydon (FF) said that such co-operation would remove a reason for the IRA to continue to exist. "And that is very important to all of us," he added.
Mr Jim Walsh (FF) said it was important that the British government get into the frame of mind whereby it co-operated fully with the inquiries established here, and certainly where an independent judicial figure of international stature, Judge Cory, had recommended that there should be a public inquiry into the killing of Mr Finucane.
Mr Brian Hayes, Fine Gael leader in the House, said he regretted that there were differences between the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice on the issue of membership of the IRA army council.
Mr Paul Coghlan (FG) said he hoped that, after yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Ministers would be speaking with one voice on such matters.
The Leader of the House, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said she agreed that it was necessary now to go beyond the blame game. She wished to commend the bipartisan approach taken by the leader of Fine Gael.
"I heard Enda Kenny's comments this morning and I thought they were extremely helpful," she said.
Fine Gael and Labour welcomed the statement by the Minister for Education and Science, Ms Hanafin, that the reintroduction of third-level fees was off the agenda.
Speaking in a debate on the OECD report on third-level education, the Minister said that the many competing demands on the Exchequer would inevitably limit the ability to make a "quantum leap" in funding for any one sector, whatever its strategic importance.
The challenge of securing increased investment for higher education was one which had to be shared between the Government and the sector itself, she added.
"Clearly, there is a need for institutions to diversify their funding sources. The report identifies some potential avenues.
"Equally importantly, there is a need for the Government and the sector to work closely together in ensuring that the conditions for diversified funding are facilitated," Ms Hanafin said.