Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I wish the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, well as future Taoiseach. I would like if he were to take immediate corrective action in respect of crime and the economy, two areas which have been in serious free-flow for some time.

Senator Joe O'Reilly referred to the importance of the WTO talks to our economy, farming and agriculture. What we need at this point is corrective action. In wishing Deputy Cowen well, I want also to ask him to grab the bull by the horns and to address the issues of crime and the economy in the short to medium term.

I second Senator Frances Fitzgerald's call for a debate in the next few days on the various reports on matters within the health service. We need accountability and to know what is working and where the mistakes are being made so we can all move ahead.

It is time we in this House debated third level education and its future in this country. Members will be aware there are currently seven universities and 14 institutes of technology in Ireland. This issue has been covered by every newspaper yet it has not been debated in this House. It is time we faced up to what are our national and regional needs, what are the needs of the knowledge society and whether our current third level model is meeting those needs. We must also consider the needs of artisans and apprenticeships and whether we are getting value for the €1 billion being spent on research at university level.

I would appreciate if the Leader should invite the Minister for Education and Science to this House for such a debate. Also, I second Senator Feargal Quinn's call for a debate on this issue.