Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for a full debate on the breakdown of law and order and how alcohol abuse is damaging the fabric of society. I ask the Leader to consider a different format for this debate given that this is a cross-departmental issue. I propose a whole-day debate, bringing in the Ministers for Education and Science, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Social and Family Affairs.

We should all consult with residents associations in our local communities and any other organisation that may be able to help us devise a way of working together on this issue. There must be a bottom up approach; we cannot do it from the top down simply by talking about it in this Chamber. We must work together to improve the quality of life for citizens. The way of life we took for granted as we grew up seems to have faded from the horizon. I would welcome a debate on that whole issue. I ask the Leader to provide for as lengthy a debate as is needed. If it takes two days, that will be fine. Representatives of all the relevant Departments should be invited to the House to discuss this matter at length.

It is right that the Lisbon reform treaty is being raised in this House every day. We are entering into a broader debate on how this reform will take place. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House to discuss matters like foreign investment policy and neutrality. The Schengen Agreement on common travel facilities, which was raised by Senator Quinn during yesterday's debate on the Passports Bill 2007, also needs to be examined. We were told yesterday that the agreement does not arise under the Passports Bill. Is it within the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform? It needs to be discussed in the context of a debate on the security of international borders and the need to stop human trafficking. Does our Schengen policy need to be reviewed and tightened? I would love a discussion on this matter. Perhaps the Leader will consider organising a debate. Perhaps we can raise it with the Minister for Foreign Affairs when we are discussing the Lisbon treaty.