Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I agree with Senator Fitzgerald about the number of people who have lost their jobs due to the collapse in the construction industry. We must remember that people were lured onto building sites because of the highly remunerated jobs there and they are now in need of upskilling and re-training. We must look at FÁS and the State agencies that are obliged to respond to the present employment deficit. We must be mindful that their educational schemes reflect a different generation and must be restructured to suit the current economic and political crisis. Those on the dole queues must not be there for long. We can accomplish this only by the immediate re-structuring of these schemes.

I wish to address the e-flow system. I registered for a tag which did not work in the first week. We were told that one of the selling points of the scheme was that it was inter-operable. It is not. Last week, the fourth week I have had a tag, I almost drove into the barrier on the Fermoy bypass because it did not lift. The barrier had two lights, the first of which went green but the second one stayed red and the barrier did not lift. I contacted e-flow because I was afraid that credit might have gone from the card details I submitted. I was told my account was in credit but that there was difficulty with other tolls. I was just feet away from driving into that barrier and I got no satisfaction from e-flow. There was no explanation of why my tag did not work that day while this week it happens to function. Somebody must be held to account for that system. Any type of collision or fatality on these tolls must be prevented. The system is clearly not inter-operable.

Last night "Oireachtas Report" carried proceedings of Dáil Éireann only. Business had not concluded there nor had it done so in this House. I do not accept the argument that may be put forward by RTE, namely, the Seanad had not concluded business because we were debating an issue. RTE has never covered legislation in this House, only the Order of Business. The programme might easily have selected its clips from business in this House at 11.30 yesterday morning but it did not even mention Seanad Éireann, which sat throughout the night. If we are serious about trying to save the body politic from cynicism and are doing our best to ensure that there is a correct perception about politics, that politicians work hard and that this House is serious about its business, then we must ensure that the national broadcaster gives us equitable time alongside the Dáil on "Oireachtas Report."