Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his elevation to high office and wish him well. I ask the Leader to facilitate two debates on matters which could be termed old political chestnuts but which are still current problems. During the term of the previous Seanad, the House united on more than one occasion while debating the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America. Unfortunately, that still remains a serious issue for thousands of Irish people in the United States and their families in this country. In the run-up to the US presidential election, the issue of immigration policy will be to the fore in the debates. In that context it is important that the Government take a very strong line in advocating the need to regularise the situation of the undocumented Irish in the United States. It would be appropriate to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the House to discuss the issue.

I also wish to discuss decentralisation. It is almost four years since the former Minister for Finance and current European Commissioner, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, and his then political side-kick, Mr. Tom Parlon, announced that tens of thousands of civil servants would be decentralised to almost every town and village in the country. That announcement was made in advance of the 2004 local elections. The concept of decentralisation, which I support, is an excellent one but the 2004 proposal was not properly thought out. The issue must be revisited and examined from the point of view of economics, social policy and regional development. Decentralisation must be carried out in a proper manner.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Finance or the Minister of State at that Department to the House to debate the issue again. We must all acknowledge that the programme announced in 2004 is now politically dead. We must be realistic about that but also try to move forward with a new debate on decentralisation which will result in a plan that will work.