Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

Our economy will continue to change over the summer and the effects of the difficulties will become more apparent, for example in the health and education sectors. By the time we come back in September, Monaghan General Hospital will have closed, in effect, as an acute hospital. The effects of increased class sizes in schools throughout this country will start to be evident. The headlines in today's newspapers reflect the effects of the wanton violence of criminals on all parts of society. There is an opportunity for the Seanad to contribute to the debate on how our society and economy are changing, but it needs to be structured properly. We should be more proactive as regards what we do and make ourselves more relevant. It is time to start planning in this regard so that we may be more effective on our return in September and see the effects of all of these changes.

I ask the Leader that when the Seanad resumes in September and Members request him to make inquiries on various issues to particular Ministers or Departments, a structure is put in place which provides for an official written reply to his or her query to be issued to each Senator, as opposed to the Leader just giving his opinion on it at the end of the Order of Business.