Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

While we have some say in what the national broadcaster produces, we have no say in what local or private radio produces. RTE will seek an increase in the licence fee. We must have a say on that.

Seanad Éireann was not referred to in "Oireachtas Report" which was broadcast last night. That is totally unacceptable. As Leader of the House I send best wishes to Michael Conway who has been a great servant of "Oireachtas Report". He is a decent and honourable man and is ill at present. We wish him a speedy recovery.

The omission of any reference to Seanad Éireann on "Oireachtas Report" last night may have been an oversight. However, while Senators ask questions of the Leader on the Order of Business every sitting day, "Oireachtas Report" never makes reference to this. The Leader is totally ignored. I am the Government representative in this House. It must be asked how those in Dáil Éireann would react if the Leader of the Opposition was to ask questions of the Taoiseach but the Taoiseach's response was not reported? Some balance and fair play is required.

I made a commitment to the House regarding issues of great importance brought to my attention by Members on the Order of Business to have them debated for at least a half a day within a week of them being raised. I have given a commitment this week to hold a debate on banking next Wednesday, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. A request has been made of me to arrange a debate on competitiveness, FÁS and the employment situation. Given that we served here yesterday and early this morning for 21 and a half hours, including sitting up until 8.30 this morning and returning here at 12.00 p.m. — we are doing our bit for the national interest — it will be necessary to defer such a debate until the week after next in view of our scheduling requirements.

I will endeavour to have the Tánaiste present for the opening of the debate so that we may treat it with the seriousness it deserves. We salute FÁS for the work it has done and for what it has achieved. However, it is now going to have to meet the challenges in the period ahead. It has huge resources to retrain and upskill some 60% of the population that badly needs it. When I was a Member of Dáil Éireann I chaired the former Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business. The Government and the Minister will have to look at the whole areas of science and technology, which present us with great opportunities.

Senator MacSharry referred to intellectual property where we are a world leader. We must look at the possibility of increasing the points awarded in the leaving certificate examinations to mathematics and the science subjects. If we do so, we will attract students who will obtain qualifications in the areas in which jobs will be created in the future. Senator Mary White, who has spent a lifetime working in industry and creating jobs and who has great experience in that regard, identified the areas in which such opportunities will come into existence.

I have always acknowledged on the Order of Business the contributions of those many colleagues who have practical experience in particular areas. One knows when they are speaking, they are using their many years of experience to enlighten other Members as to the areas in respect of which the Seanad can provide assistance and act as a conduit to the relevant Minister or Department, or to the Government.

A great deal was stated earlier regarding the 244,000 people who are unemployed at present. Some 93% of the members of the workforce are currently in employment. I accept that 244,000 people out of work is far too many. However, I hope that the action taken by the Dáil and Seanad during the past 48 hours will assist those who are in employment in retaining their jobs. These people were concerned with regard to what would happen because banks were not loaning money to each other, credit was not available and matters were in a downward spiral. We have taken action, for which there has been widespread acclaim throughout Europe and in America, and we should stand back and see how the banks are going to proceed. There will be a debate on banking on Wednesday next and this will allow us to reassess the situation. If there is a need to spend half a day debating banking every month and if Members request it, I have no difficulty making time available.