Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

On the last point, it is very important we keep the Lisbon treaty on the agenda and decide very quickly when the referendum should be held. It is more than necessary that we keep the debate alive.

I endorse the points raised by many speakers, including Senators Harris and Hanafin, on an bord snip nua and the question of where the cuts should come from. We should all make an honest contribution in this regard.

Today I note the Combat Poverty Agency is about to be integrated into the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Now that there is new thinking because of the downturn in the economy, perhaps the national action plan dealing with social inclusion should be revisited to determine what kind of programmes we could implement to tackle the new risks of poverty. I refer in particular to the service area, irrespective of whether it pertains to schools, health centres or social housing providers. The action plan, which was introduced in good times in 2007 and which is to cover the period to 2016, should be revisited in light of the changes that have taken place.