Concerns that reports about severe penalties for cheating during the Leaving Certificate could lead to more teen suicides, was voiced by Mr David Norris (Ind).
The Minister for Education should make a statement to the House on newspaper reports about proposed jail sentences and £1,000 fines for cheats, he said.
Mr Norris emphasised he did not want to encourage cheating, but he felt that this sort of idiotic, draconian measure would only add to the appalling pressures already on young people who might get the whole thing completely out of proportion, and, under the stress of exams, think that just looking sideways across a desk might land them in prison.
"We ought to take this really seriously in the light of the number of suicides of young people because of exam pressure," he added. The Minister should make a statement to reassure young people on the eve of the upcoming examinations.
The Leader of the House, Mr Donie Cassidy, undertook to convey Mr Norris's views to the Minister.
It was unacceptable that 5,000 British citizens living in Ireland could not participate in last Friday's historic vote on the future of the island, Ms Kathleen O'Meara (Labour) said.
The Minister for the Environment should be asked to bring forward legislation urgently to enable British passport-holders resident here to vote in referendums and presidential elections, she said.
Thousands of them, many of whom had been here for a long time, had been totally disenfranchised last Friday.
RTE broadcaster Pat Kenny was strongly criticised over a "provocative" interview he conducted earlier this week. Mr Rory Kiely (FF) said this was a sensitive time in the search for a permanent peace on the island. He had heard an interview by Mr Kenny with a Mr Sean O'Callaghan.
"I was very disappointed with that interview. I think definitely it was most provocative." It was irresponsible of Mr Kenny to have had that interview and it should be condemned.
Seanad Cathaoirleach, Mr Brian Mullooly, said it was not in order to discuss the subject matter of radio or television programmes on the House's Order of Business.
No decent Irish patriotic person should use Ryanair, suggested Mr David Norris (Ind). The Trinity member voiced concern about Ryanair's recourse to the European Court.
Following the company's attempt to fire a lot of its own employees, it was trying to force the national airline to dismiss its own workers as well and sink a great national carrier, he claimed.
Mr Norris asked if the leader of the House would not agree that no decent, patriotic Irish person would use Ryanair again.