Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I agree with many speakers that we should have a cross-party discussion on the financial situation. I do not want any more talking the talk. We have spoken every day for the past three weeks about the financial situation, and while it is a huge debate, we should be constructive about it and not bash one another as has been the case in the Chamber. I would welcome a cross-party constructive debate on the issue. As Senator Hanafin has said over recent days, everyone should put forward their best proposal and we can have a good debate on what is good and what is bad about the process.

We have also been speaking about reform of the prisons and how to rehabilitate young people. There must be another way than just sending young people to prison for minor faults, and this would be a welcome debate.

Protests outside Leinster House were referred to. While I welcome any protest which will speed up the construction of new schools, I am not so sure I agree that young children from the age of four should be taken out of their classrooms and disciplined and tutored by their parents or teachers that this is what they must do. I am not so sure that is the way to go forward in dealing with young children. I would like the adults to take control. If they must protest, they should do it in a constructive way, but young children should not be involved. It is not healthy that such a mind should be taken at such an early age. That is my own feeling. I agree that we can protest about the school.