Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I endorse what Senator Leyden said and what Senator Mary White said yesterday. At one time I did a great deal of work on the issue of prisoners in Britain. Under the European Convention on Human Rights, they are entitled to serve their sentences at the point closest to their homes. We need an expansion of that concept here. Whatever about the person who committed the crime, the families did not commit the crime and that is the thrust behind the convention.

I agree with Senator Fitzgerald about the need for a date for the Lisbon treaty. Nothing will focus the mind quicker than a date. When one has a long time to think about something, one does not think about it until the date is pressing. I am not sure if the date is as important as getting a date. People will be bombarded by information at that stage.

There are two issues on which we must focus after the break. The issue of alcohol and drug abuse is an important topic with which we dealt in the first half of this year. That should not go off the agenda, because it is central to our social difficulties. I commend the GAA for reclaiming its sporting events back from the drinks industry, as was announced last night. We could have a debate with the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism. It could be based on the committee report carried out a few years ago which highlighted the links between alcohol sponsorship and sports. We should keep addressing this topic so that in the future we can point to what we did.

The other issue is related to the economy. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, should come before the House after the break to debate this issue. Senator Mullen spoke about schools and the need for computers. It is not that long ago when schools did not have any computers, while they have a basic facility now. There has been a lot of investment in primary and secondary schools, and particularly in research and development at the institutes of technology. We should be looking at the link between the investment in education and the needs of our economy. The Minister of State works in both the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Science. He has a policy statement due, if it has not already been published.

There are other issues that arise but it would be a great start to debate the state of the economy and the social issue of drug and alcohol abuse.