Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I support the call by the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Brian Hayes, for a debate on the serious problem of car theft, which is escalating on a weekly basis. It is a cause of great distress to many people. A person can break into their home, steal the keys of the car and subsequently sell it to a person in the UK or elsewhere in Europe. Something radical needs to be done to address the issue. Senator Brian Hayes proposed a means of dealing with it which is currently in force in Northern Ireland and the UK. I would welcome a debate on this issue at an early time.

I call once again for a debate on the sexual health of young people. The Joint Committee on Health and Children recently had a debate on this issue during which a consultant from St. James's Hospital gave startling figures on this growing problem, which is not being addressed. The necessary services are not in place around the country for young people to access. A broad education programme on sexual health is needed.

On a related but broader issue, I call for a separate debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and perhaps involving the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, on tackling the spread of AIDS throughout the world, particularly in Africa and South America. I am thinking particularly of condoms being made available to people in those countries, accepting that the use of condoms is the best way to help stop the spread of AIDS. I cautiously welcome a potential new development which we are not sure will come about. The Roman Catholic Church is considering changing its stance on the use of condoms as a means of fighting the spread of AIDS. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State at that Department, Deputy Conor Lenihan, are doing wonderful work in this area, but much more is required to press home what we believe needs to be done. I would welcome a debate on the matter.