Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the debate we are to have tomorrow on the cutbacks. I listened attentively to what Senator O'Toole had to say about the fairness or unfairness of some of them. I have had many phone calls from ex-colleagues in the teaching profession who explained how they would be affected. We all have to face these cutbacks. I am concerned about jobs and that is why I say to my colleagues that they have jobs and they must try to work it out somehow at this point. I do not like having to tell them that and I do not like having to hear what is going on in the world. Nevertheless, we must face up to the reality. I welcome the debate tomorrow, at which we will discuss and tease out the fairness or unfairness of the cutbacks.

I do not like the cut in overseas development aid either. I visited many countries, including many African countries, and saw the impact of our aid and how it was reaching out to the poorest in the world. Nevertheless, we must ask our embassies to consider how we can do more with less money to help those who are most needy.

I would welcome a debate on the updating of FÁS and the courses it is to introduce to achieve the necessary upskilling of the workforce. I would like the Minister to come to the House and give us an update. There are still courses in FÁS which are not relevant today, and I hope they will have been cancelled and new courses put in their place. I welcome a debate on this, and therefore I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to come to the House and give us an update so that we can thrash out the issue at length.

Like Senator Coffey, I am worried about the situation in Waterford, and I hope we will have a hasty decision on the future of Waterford Crystal. It is the history of the company with which I am concerned. It goes back a long way. I want every effort to be made.