John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I second Senator O'Toole's amendment on "head shops". I ask the Leader to outline to the House when we will have the debate on that topic, whether it will be later this week or next week.

I agree with Senator Fitzgerald and previous speakers on the proposed cutbacks, in particular that involving special needs assistants. I have personal family experience of their work. It is a bit rich to be told by Members on the Government side that extra teachers are being hired. That is all well and good. While it is welcome and important, if one does not give a child who needs a special needs assistant access to such provision, one denies his or her basic right to an education. One cannot stand over any cutback in that regard as a revenue saving measure or for any other reason.

I also raise with the Leader pensions for the spouses of farmers. I did not hear the issue raised in the House last week, although it might have been. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Hanafin, has launched what can only be described as an attack on a particularly small segment of the population, namely, farmers' wives, for the most part, who a little more than a year and a half ago became eligible for the State pension. Now the Minister has indicated that the pension payment will cease and that moneys paid might be taken back from those who have paid their PRSI contributions and contributed greatly to society. They are to be hung out to dry by the Government. Perhaps the Leader has a particular stance on the issue that he would like to disclose to the House.

Media reports over the weekend indicated that locum doctors were to be brought into the PAYE system by the Revenue Commissioners. It was indicated in some of the reports I read that back taxes going back four or five years would be sought from locum doctors who up to now have been treated as self-employed persons. Perhaps the Leader has a view on that subject. I consider this as a very unfair proposal.