Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Hopefully, I will not get a red card. On the matter of educational grants, I have asked the Minister for Education and Science to examine the possibility of basing the qualification for such grants on net income as in the case of qualification for a medical card because couples and families find it difficult to cope without the benefit of such grants. Qualification for a medical card has been based on net income for a number of years and the same criterion should apply to qualification for educational grants.

I support the call for a debate on ethics. In terms of the recent saga, the real loser in recent weeks has been the body politic. I would be slow in rushing to introduce further legislation on ethics because it would infringe deeply on people's personal lives and the lives of their spouses and ex partners, as we saw recently. All we would do by such a measure is turn people off considering entering politics. We should be careful about that.

I proposed previously that the option for the Cathaoirleach to take four matters on the Adjournment be considered and if the Seanad is to sit two days a week, I ask that this proposal be reconsidered.