John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I am surprised by media reports today to the effect that the PAC has been experiencing difficulties in accessing some of FÁS's accounts on top executives' travel expenses. It is a disgrace. The House should have a full and frank discussion of the matter as soon as possible.

I agree with Senator Alex White, who raised a significant problem for people on the Opposition benches. Frequently, the Leader agrees with us when we call for specific debates, but they are never held. Is the Leader finding it difficult to arrange for members of the Cabinet to attend the House to address statements? Two Bills will be before the House this week, but there would be ample opportunity for statements on major issues. Since our all-night session on the bank assurance scheme, the Minister for Finance has not appeared in the House. We should hold a discussion on the recapitalisation of the banks and the Minister should attend it. We have not debated education with the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, since the budget cuts. While the Leader probably agrees, is there a difficulty in arranging for some of the people in question to attend the Chamber to address thorny issues? We should discuss them as soon as possible.

I wish to raise the issues of social partnership and the national wage agreement, which relate to FÁS, given that its board and the boards of many organisations are based on social partnership.

From a Fine Gael perspective and in political terms, it may be difficult to raise this matter, but most people, even those within the public service, admit that we cannot afford the new national wage agreement. We have reached the point in the economic development of the country where we will be obliged to conduct a serious reform of the public service. In the past, I referred to a number of reforms that should take place. The obvious and primary example in this regard is the health service. Particular economies should have been achieved as a result of the amalgamation of the old health boards into the HSE. However, these never came about. There are examples within other Departments and in other areas where such economies must be forthcoming.

We should debate this matter. As far as I am aware, the House has not discussed the new national wage agreement since it was arrived at by the social partners. The Seanad would be a suitable forum in which to debate that agreement.