Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I agree with Senator Norris's demand for time to be given to introduce the legislation on the Order Paper which he has proposed. I also reiterate my call to have a debate on child care. For the past four weeks I have explained to this House in great detail the changes which the Government plans to introduce in the subvention scheme and the effects of those changes on community child care across the country. I am glad that in reply to Deputy Ó Caoláin, the Minister has stated he will not implement the deadline of 2 November by which time the community child care sector was to submit its responses or else be ruled out for any funding from January onwards. However, we still need to have the debate. There is a groundswell of support across the political divide for one. I ask the Leader to make time available as soon as possible.

I also ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, to come to the House to discuss a serious issue relating to the marine rescue stations at Malin Head and Valentia. The Government is proposing to decommission these stations which will result in the loss of 18 jobs at Malin Head and the loss of 17 jobs in Valentia.