Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Twomey, Mullen, Hannigan, Ormonde, Norris and McFadden called for an urgent debate on matters pertaining to social welfare fraud and all other kinds of fraud. I have no difficulty in having the Minister for Social and Family Affairs come to the House to assist in this matter. As Senator McFadden said, €10,000 is a lot of money and if thousands are doing this, it represents a considerable sum. We want to do everything we can to support the Minister in the challenge that faces the Department in this area.

With regard to the debate yesterday on local government and the importance of the Seanad, as I said on "The Late, Late Show", the Seanad discusses every Bill section by section and line by line. The more Bills that are initiated in the Seanad, the better the legislation will be in both Houses. I compliment all the work the Dáil is doing and has done through the years. However, the Seanad has the capacity and the ability, and no guillotine whatsoever is involved. The taxpayers of Ireland trust us under the Constitution and Seanad Éireann is the upholder of both the Constitution and the taxpayers.