Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Kelly, Coghlan, Buttimer, Regan and Hanafin expressed serious concerns again — as they do every day, quite correctly — about new revelations concerning banking issues. I understand the leaders of the main Opposition parties and their spokespersons on finance were briefed by the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach last week. The Government may not be in control of some of the revelations that emerge daily and we can only deal with them as they are made known to the people and the Government.

As I informed the House yesterday, it is my intention to start the pensions levy Bill in the House on Wednesday night next at 8 o'clock. If we must sit late into the night and early morning to pass the Bill, I certainly will have no difficulty in allocating whatever time is needed by colleagues. Perhaps in meeting the leaders of the groups next Tuesday we could discuss and agree what is necessary.

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Feeney, Hannigan and Ormonde called for an urgent debate on FÁS, job creation, the challenge facing the country of training apprentices and of preparing for when the downturn in the economy is followed by an uplift in the future. We are told every working person in Ireland must be reskilled or upskilled by 2020. This is an ideal opportunity for FÁS, the Government agency, to meet once again the challenge it met so magnificently in the 1980s when it was called upon to upskill and train people. It is a timely call for this debate to take place in the House. Senator Ormonde is always calling for the up-to-date position on training and FÁS and I have no difficulty in allocating time so that this can happen.

Senators O'Toole and Ó Murchú, two respected and long-standing Senators, made known to the House this morning their views on Seán Garland, a 74 year old man suffering from cancer who has been a peaceful person who played a central role in the Good Friday Agreement. I assure the House that I will pass on the Senators' urgent request to the Minister immediately after the Order of Business. I fully agree with the sentiments expressed by both Senators about a new beginning under the new US President, Barack Obama, who has uplifted not alone his own country but the people of the world. I hope the stimulus package he signed into being yesterday is the start of the upturn and becomes a ray of hope for everyone experiencing difficulties across the world.

Senators Kelly, Buttimer and Quinn called for an urgent debate with the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, on Health Service Executive matters such as the accident and emergency report published yesterday. I certainly have no difficulty with this. The Minister has always been very supportive in coming to the House and engaging in frank exchanges with Senators. I will make that request today.

Senator McCarthy raised the pensions levy and I have explained when that will be taken in the House next week. He also asked that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, conduct a risk assessment of the oil slick off the south coast. I will endeavour to have the Minister brief the House on the up-to-date position, perhaps for one hour, on the threat of this major oil spillage. This is a serious position in which the people of the south find themselves. I certainly agree with Senator McCarthy that this debate should take place. I will contact the Minister today to see whether it is possible for this to take place tomorrow for one hour.

Senator McFadden raised serious concerns regarding Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, and I must agree with her. As one who was a patient there for six or seven weeks at one time, I can only relay to the House what a magnificent hospital it is. It has been a shining light in our area for the past 50 years. It was a magnificent training hospital under the Medical Missionaries of Mary when that order was running it. I certainly will pass the strong views of my colleague from County Westmeath, Senator McFadden, on to the Minister after the Order of Business.

Senators Leyden, Callely, Hannigan, Feeney, Mary White and Quinn called for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to come to the House to deal with the fact that, as Senator Leyden, a former Minister of State at that Department, said, the Government should see whether it can acquire equity in some of the companies that are laying off enormous numbers of employees. The loss of 1,100 jobs at Dublin Airport is a serious blow to that area. As I said last week, when former Deputy Charles J. Haughey was Taoiseach in the late 1980s, this was one of the power bases in that area of north County Dublin to rejuvenate the economy at the time.

As Senator Mary White said, the difficulties in most of these cases stems from the high cost of wages and the fact that we have lost our competitiveness. We must apprise the Tánaiste of our views when she comes to the House and give her the benefit of our experience and ideas in assisting her and the Government to meet the challenge. If it is not addressed now, there will be further lay-offs. These are the cold hard facts of life and we must deal with the matter.

Senator Norris raised the matter of the CPP meeting and I understand that one is imminent. I shall certainly take his views into consideration.