Shane Ross (Independent)

I beg the Cathaoirleach's indulgence for one or two questions. I endorse what Senator Finucane said about autism. The issue has arisen in this House more than in the other and there is all-party support in the area. Senator Hayes raised it and I know the Leader also has an interest in it. Perhaps we could continue that debate and squeeze some money out of the Minister. The motion must continue, but we should get a commitment from the Minister for an extra grant for autism. We might achieve something by doing that in this House with serious intent. All sides appear to agree on the issue and it could be taken seriously here. We could achieve something to our credit.

I refer to what Senator Terry said. When the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, made his comments, people on this side of the House realised that he was, first of all, trailing his coat and that we should not necessarily respond as expected to him when he says such things. When he said that inequality was an incentive for the economy, he qualified it rather cleverly by saying that he was talking about mathematical inequality. That is a significant qualification. I am not sure that the interview he gave to the magazine in question merits a full debate in the House.