David Norris (Independent)

I have called over recent weeks for a rolling debate on the economy and do so again today. I will not put it to a vote because that would be a waste of time. However, we have plenty of time today. There is only one item of legislation to be discussed to which no amendments have been tabled. As a result, today's business is going to collapse embarrassingly early. I do not see any reason we cannot have a debate on the economy today. It is important we do so, in particular given the Bank of Ireland cannot now even control its petty cash of €7 million compared with the €7 billion of taxpayers' money guzzled by the banks.

I disagree with my distinguished colleague, the Senator for the Sunday Independent, Senator Harris, who fulminated last week against the Garda Síochána for engaging in a dignified protest. I believe we are extremely lucky to have such a remarkable, fine and active force of men and women. I congratulate the off-duty garda who last week managed to kick a gun from the hands of a bandit. That was an act of great bravery. Members of the Garda were on the ball, despite the paucity of information they were given, when they managed to apprehend people with several million euro in the back of their car. We should be grateful to have such an excellent force.

We need a debate on the economy. The Government appears to think it can cure it by licensing casinos, as if the entire financial system had not become a casino anyway. I call for this debate to examine some inconsistencies such as in the centre of Dublin where businesses are closing down one after another with sales offering 50% reductions and luxury hotels offering rooms for €20 a night. This apparently is economically possible for them even though rents are increasing. Rent reviews can only go upwards. This should be addressed in legislation.

There is plenty of talent in this country. Look at Eileen Gray, a young woman from Wexford who went to Paris. We hardly even heard of her here but she became one of the greatest designers of the 20th century. The so-called dragon chair went for €22 million at the recent Yves Saint Laurent auction. We certainly have talent. Visitors to the Chamber often remark that its kind of ceiling could not be done nowadays because people no longer have the talent they once had in days gone by, but I point out that young craftspeople put the entire central section of the ceiling in place when I was a new Senator. There is plenty of talent in this country if we encourage the ingenuity and foster the talent of the people.