Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I join my colleagues in calling for relevant debates on topical issues that concern the public. Both sides of the House this morning requested debates on gangland crime, education cuts, which we have asked for on this side of the House for the past five or six weeks, and, as Senator Quinn said, the economy. We were assured by the Leader of the House five or six weeks ago that we would have rolling debates on the economy. The wheels must have fallen off the wagon because we have had no rolling debate. We have had no debate whatsoever on the economy since he announced that.

Were it not for Members of this House using their Private Members' time to deal with topical issues, we would not deal with them. I hope after today the Deputy Leader will tell the Leader that Members on the Government side, with Members on this side, seek debates on relevant issues and we hope to see them on next week's Order of Business.