Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Next week, they hopefully also will have the opportunity to celebrate Senator Norris's big birthday with a zero in the number. His birthday falls next week and just in case he is not present, Members should remember it by mentioning it today and should celebrate it because as the Father of the House, he is the longest-serving Member here.

I would love to have a debate on the introduction of some form of online information whereby each citizen could see where his or her taxes are being spent. This is available in other countries, where one simply gets that information online. I raised this issue last year and the Minister, Deputy Howlin, stated it was already available. However, that is not the case as not even the information is available. I seek a facility whereby all citizens could go online and see where every penny of their taxpayers' money is spent and on what it is spent. Every citizen should have such information, as it is available in other countries, and states within the United States are also able to do this.

Yesterday, Members had a good debate on the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014 with the Minister, Deputy Bruton. However, in the near future, when Members return after the recess, there is room for a debate with whoever is Minister at that stage, regardless of whether it is still Deputy Bruton, on the fact that jobs are available. I read in one newspaper article that something like 400,000 people are on the live register but hoteliers cannot get people to work in hotels. When one visits a hotel or restaurant now, one invariably encounters people from a country other than Ireland. There must be something that can be done to encourage it and while I believe that is possible, it will require a debate. Yesterday, the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation had a good debate involving a number of young entrepreneurs, who clearly identified that there are things we should be doing. Members should make sure they have this debate, hopefully after the summer recess.