Feargal Quinn (Independent)

An horrific case of someone charged, found guilty of rape and sentenced was reported yesterday. The body that employed the person had been unable to verify references of potential employees with the Garda Síochána. Two years ago I referred to the opportunity to provide this information to those involved in child care and general businesses. This requires investment but it is a business opportunity to provide a service for which businesses would pay.

This service is provided by 300 people working in the police force in Scotland. In Ireland we have allocated 30 people to this function. An investment in technology is also required and any employer should be able to access information on a potential employee's records before taking somebody on. This business opportunity for the Garda Síochána would benefit the community as a whole.

I urge the Leader to arrange a debate on nuclear energy. Today a British Government body will announce plans to bury the nuclear waste of the past 60 years in Britain, some 470,000 cu. m. of nuclear waste. It is currently stored in 500 temporary underground sites. The former president of an Irish university stated that we should not close our minds to the option of nuclear energy. The Leader has stated that we do not wish this to occur but we should consider the implications. I seek a debate on nuclear energy to hear both sides of the story.