Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

We will have the benefit of those, hopefully, to express our views and assist in any way we can.

Calls were made for a debate on banking issues, which the Deputy Leader correctly outlined in his contribution. The lifeblood of business is the availability of credit, particularly at Christmas time. Every business in the retail sector needs increased stock and, therefore, additional overdraft facilities. This has been the case for many years. In the main, retailers are being assisted but I understand from my inquiries that smaller retailers are not being facilitated. I read the article about the lady who had a €5,000 overdraft and who highlighted at the weekend that she needed a €10,000 facility. That is not the spirit of banking we have all come to know. Everyone in business in Ireland has done well in the past ten or 12 years. As I often said, we were the envy of the world. What was gained should not be lost but should be appreciated.

Hopefully, the events of the next 48 hours will put confidence back into the retail sector because the word "confidence" does not exist in that sector at present. I know this from experience and from meeting so many people. Senator McFadden will be aware of this in our area. The lack of confidence is widespread in the midlands. We all have confidence in the Taoiseach. We all are honoured the Taoiseach has come from the midlands and we are looking forward to getting our fair share, to say the least of it, in the coming years. However, we must put confidence back into the marketplace and I hope the events of the next few days will help in no small way in that regard. I would not like to say any more about that at present.

I agree with colleagues on female genital mutilation and the plight of Pamela and her family. I am pleased the Government has confirmed it will hold this decision until after 10 December and the European courts consider this urgent matter. It would take a tear from a stone watching television last night to see the human hurt and the appalling circumstances in which this woman finds herself. As has been said, having lost a daughter already and with two other beautiful young girls in her family, she is experiencing a terribly distressful time. We in Ireland have been always proud of our stance on humanitarian issues. Please God, maybe this will come through at the 11th hour for this poor unfortunate lady who is experiencing this difficulty.

Senators O'Toole, O'Reilly, Ormonde, Coffey and Healy-Eames called for a debate on education. I am endeavouring to have this take place. Hopefully, by tomorrow morning I might be able to let the House know when this will take place. Senator Ormonde gave us the benefit of her views this morning, as of course did the representative of the teachers here, Senator O'Toole, who has excelled in his career in what he has done for the teaching profession and his membership of this House. Senator O'Toole has been always to the fore in giving the House, the country and the Government the benefit of his experience.