Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I aspire to be there. We will have leadership when we get there.

I wish to raise a number of issues that are of great importance. I have raised this issue on two occasions since the Easter recess. We need an urgent debate on the economy and especially, as Senator Regan said, on how consumers in this country have been ripped off. Irrespective of whether the Leader agrees, rip-off Ireland is alive and well. This morning's survey shows that people in the South are paying 30% more than their counterparts in the North for the same goods. It is simply not good enough. Ordinary citizens are struggling to pay grocery bills and some are forced to make difficult choices about which products they can afford to purchase. They deserve leadership from the Government. They also deserve better treatment from the large retail outlets, among which there is no competition. Is a cosy cartel in operation? I support Senator Hannigan's call for a debate on this issue.

I am concerned that the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, intends to transfer responsibility for youth affairs from his Department to the Office of the Minister for Children, under the remit of the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Barry Andrews. Will the Leader ask the Minister not to sign the ministerial order until he meets with the various stakeholders and until we have had an opportunity to discuss the issue in this House? Youth work and youth affairs are two separate issues. The retention of the role of the Department of Education and Science, or even a cross-departmental model, is the way to go. I call for an urgent debate on this matter.