Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes, the leader of the Opposition, sought a debate on the recently announced OECD report. This would be very useful. I reject his contention that the OECD damned us all. Initial reports in the papers suggest, as Senator Dardis highlighted, that, in many respects, it approves of the way we do our commercial business and run the country. I acknowledge Senator McDowell's point that we are all accepting the OECD report as if it was written on tablets of stone and that the orthodox view it represents does not take heed of real people with real needs living in real communities. That is true, but the OECD can only write its report on the basis of facts and figures.

Senators Brian Hayes and O'Meara called for a debate on neutrality. This would be extremely useful and both sides of the House would be keen to have it. I will certainly request it and I await the publication of the relevant document today.