Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

——Members would display more common sense. I never interrupt any Member but it seems to be the fashion now that the more educated one is, the more one interrupts.

Senator Callely and others spoke about the situation in regard to the Asgard II. I have no difficulty in asking the Minister for Defence to come to the House to update us on his proposals in this regard.

Senators Healy Eames, Callely, Fitzgerald, O'Toole and Kelly called for a debate on education in the course of which the Minister would update us on issues relating to his portfolio. I have no difficulty with this proposal. However, Members should bear in mind that, despite the extent of our financial difficulties, more than €600 million is being spent this year under the capital programme.

Senator Alex White called for a debate on retail prices. The Senator's Labour Party colleague, Deputy Penrose, is the Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which is at an advanced stage in its deliberations on the review of the groceries order. I propose we await the conclusion of that review in the coming weeks before inviting the Minister to the House to discuss the challenges identified by the committee. It is interesting to note that members of the previous committee, which was called the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business and which I had the privilege of chairing, were in complete unison on this matter. However, our all-party recommendations were not taken on board.

That committee has been vindicated in this matter. We conducted an in-depth analysis, consultants engaged by the committee worked hard to produce those recommendations and we made our case strongly. We knew what would happen. People must have options. Corner shops and convenience stores continue to provide an important service to society in a situation where the nearest large store is often a drive away. Poorer people may be obliged to hire taxis to bring them shopping outside their home town because there is no longer a corner shop or convenience store. Local shops also offered a service in the past by allowing people a few days' credit to purchase their groceries before they received their wages or social welfare cheque. Now such people must go without. That is another aspect of the issue. There is much to be gained by reviewing the report of the last committee. I hope it will be considered by the House when we deliberate on this matter. Senators Coghlan and Leyden worked hard in formulating that report.

Senators Coffey and McFadden called for a debate on competitiveness. This is the greatest single challenge facing the State. When the global economy begins to improve, the high cost of doing business in Ireland will be to our disadvantage. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, observed on "Questions and Answers" on Monday night that in the case of a particular employer employing in the United States, Scotland and Ireland, the average wage paid in this jurisdiction is €43,000, compared with a figure of €33,000 in the United States and €27,000 in Scotland. That is a serious challenge to us, irrespective of whether the economy is buoyant or down as it is at present. We have to address it and the social partners have a responsibility and duty, as we do as legislators, to see how we can do so. I have no difficulty in providing in the very near future the longest time available for this debate on competitiveness.

Senators Boyle, Walsh, Callely, Ó Murchú and Buttimer referred to the proposal by Senator Quinn to call for support across the political divide for good projects. The call has been made in sincerity and has been received well on all sides of the House. As Senator Ó Murchú said, perhaps this is the start of something positive for this session and the remainder of the year. I support the call.

The views of the former Attorney General were quoted in the House. He is one of the leading businessmen in the world, which I acknowledge despite the fact that he is a member of Fine Gael.