Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I support what Senator O'Toole said. I was at the opening ceremony on Friday night and on Saturday. It was a huge fair and the Irish did so well and had such an impact. It would be very worthwhile, therefore, to have a debate, not on agriculture but on food. It is a reminder of the great food we produce and which is on display but also of the fierce competition in the world.

Will the Leader consider a debate on parenting and marriage? I mention this because recently I had the opportunity to visit a residential home for young people and was very impressed by the commitment and personal touch of those involved. However, I was also startled by the figures we saw last week on the number of children under ten years of age who have been in residential homes for more than five years. There is a great need to have regard to the benefit of home and family. It would be worthwhile using the Iona Institute report produced this week which talked about the benefit of marriage, married life and the upbringing of children in a family home.

This week there was a change of direction in the British Labour Party which said it now wished to consider the value of marriage because it was no longer politically correct to ignore it. Perhaps we have something similar to do in this country, namely, consider the benefit to a child of having both parents committed to marriage and the benefit of bringing up children in a family home. I mention it because the steps we have taken in recent years, although with the best objectives, have perhaps discouraged parents from feeling they can stay at home to mind children because the State has encouraged people to go out to work. It has not been politically correct to do so in recent times but it would be worthwhile to have a debate on parenting and marriage.