Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I support the views of a number of Senators from both sides on an issue first raised by Senator Brian Hayes. It is essential that we have a debate on the report which is being published today. That debate would help inform the work of the joint committee on the issues it will explore. I agree it is too serious a matter to be left aside for three months.

I would welcome, if possible, a debate next week on the ESRI report on poverty. Sometimes the media coverage of such issues can be unbalanced in one direction or the other. Clearly much progress has been made in reducing consistent poverty but, as often happens in a time of boom, the relative gap widened. It would be a good idea to have an informed debate on that subject.