Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I will try to come down after all that to say that I agree we need economic consensus. I agree with the idea of a cross-party forum. There is room for vision and change. The public want it. We are here to reflect the public's thinking at this stage. To get our country back, we need that cross-party discussion to tease out how best we can improve our economic position. Otherwise we will not be doing so and will have outsiders coming in to tell us what to do. I agree with the many speakers who say we must come together on the issue.

Another serious issue that needs to be discussed in the Chamber is sham marriages. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister dealing with EU legislation to come to the House to discuss how we can improve the EU directive on the matter. A number of very vulnerable young women from poorer EU members states are lured to this country for money and to avail of better opportunities and find themselves in sham marriages. There is something wrong, given that there are more sham marriages in this country and the United Kingdom than elsewhere. Is there any way we can tackle the problem? The Garda is doing what it can to tackle it. Registrars are also trying to do so but do not have the powers they need. I, therefore, ask the Leader to arrange a debate to tease out the issue as to why this country seems to have so many vulnerable young women from poorer EU member states who find themselves in this position. We have a duty to protect them.