Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I could not agree more with the points made by Senator Brian Hayes. I received two telephone calls in the past 24 hours from constituents wishing to know exactly what is involved in the proposed referendum. There is a general view that a referendum on the rights of children must be a positive development, and most people tend towards being supportive of it. However, Members who ask their constituents whether they know what the referendum is about will find that most do not.

I agree that rushing into such a referendum will not achieve anything like the type of consensus that is desirable. As an Independent Member, I am also concerned that the debate on this issue is breaking down along party political lines. This should not be a political issue. I am not saying that either the Government or the main Opposition parties are trying to make it such, but that is what is happening.

We have almost become out of practice when it comes to White Papers. It is, however, an important part of the parliamentary process that there should be discussion of White Papers and Green Papers on various issues. I suggest to the Acting Leader that we have a debate on this particular issue as soon as possible to ascertain Members' views. It is only then that we will discover the wide variety of views on this issue, as well as the level misunderstanding around it. It is a highly complex issue. The constitutional group, comprising experts on such issues, took a long time to issue its response. It is unfair to expect others to understand all the implications in such a short timeframe. It is inappropriate to rush into this before an election and there is no reason that it cannot be postponed. We must allow a debate to take place.

A recent survey shows that one in six parents take their children out of school during the school term to take advantage of low air fares and holiday breaks at home and abroad. The Government should consider making travel companies and tourist outlets aware that by increasing prices at times when schools are on holidays, they are presenting parents with an inducement they cannot afford to ignore. I am not saying that we should interfere with how the market works. However, this practice is causing great disruption in schools. I understand parents' actions; the difference in fare prices before and after a mid-term break, for instance, is huge. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism should enter talks with the appropriate tourism providers to ascertain whether there is a way of dealing with this, not to prevent businesses from making profits but at least to have some type of graded approach.

I wish to comment on today's Order of Business. I am always dissatisfied when it is decided that if a particular debate finishes before a certain time, we will move immediately onto the next matter. I understand the pressure of business but I would prefer sufficient time for each debate. I understand the difficulty today and I do not object to the proposed arrangement. I ask the Acting Leader, however, whether we can at least agree that there be a half an hour break between Nos. 2 and 3 so that if Members are at a meeting, for example, they can organise to return to the Chamber.