Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Our economy has been doing very well in recent years and one of the reasons given for the investment from abroad is that Ireland is one of the English-speaking nations in the European Community. However, figures published today suggest we have a long way to go and cannot become complacent because Ireland is the only country in Europe which does not teach a foreign language at primary school level. The figures also suggest that Ireland is one of two countries, with Scotland, which does not provide for a compulsory foreign language at second level. The Minister for Education and Science should come before the House and tell us if she has plans to do something about these two particular areas because the complacency which could develop about our economy could be damaging.

Senator Ulick Burke referred to today's crime figures. The Oireachtas passed legislation on taxis in 2003 and I am glad that the National Taxi Advisory Council now has a taxi regulator who is developing a charter for taxis. However, we have not yet established a ban on criminals obtaining a taxi licence. If a charter for the control of taxis is imminent, we should ask the taxi regulator to move immediately on that particular aspect of it. If criminals are still able to get taxi licences, even though we passed the legislation two years ago, we should not delay trying to achieve that ban.