Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Mullen, Mary White, Buttimer and Coffey raised the transport Bill. In reply to Senator Fitzgerald, I will give whatever time is required - definitely a week to ten days - between the Second Stage and Committee Stage of this Bill.

On the serious concerns expressed by Senators this morning, particularly Senator Mary White, regarding the abuse of 30,000 children, which is horrifying to say the least, I certainly have no difficulty in coming back to the House on having a continuing debate on the Ryan report, on which I gave a commitment to the House before the summer recess, and also on having the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, Deputy Barry Andrews, come to the House on the concerns being expressed regarding adoption, especially from Vietnam. As the House will be aware, the Minister of State went to Vietnam and met representatives of the Vietnamese Government. I certainly have no difficulty in inviting him back to update the House on his discussions there, and also on all matters pertaining to the concerns of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children under the chairmanship of my colleague, Deputy Mary O'Rourke, and all the various issues and challenges facing children and their well-being in the country at present.

Senator O'Toole raised the need for a debate on the public sector to discuss the serious issues and challenges facing everyone at work and what their contribution will be. What he proposes is a good idea, that we would go through it portfolio by portfolio - perhaps two per week if possible - between now and the budget to see how the House with its wisdom can make proposals to assist the Government in its plight of finding €4 billion in savings as outlined by Senator Marc MacSharry. It is a matter in which this House can play a leading role. I invite Senators over the next few days to put their thoughts together with all their teams of expertise with whom they have worked down through the years to come to the assistance of the Ministers to see how the reduction in income there will be in their portfolios can least affect those who are underprivileged and on the margins of society. This is a good idea.

On Senator O'Toole's proposal that we would spend one day a month in the House with the North-South Ministerial Council report, possibly we can have a lengthy period of time allocated on one day so that we can celebrate the tenth anniversary of the great work being done by Ministers North and South. We could also allocate one day a month for the House to discuss EU reports and decisions. There is all-party agreement on this. I understand it is in our submissions - certainly in the Fianna Fáil one - that we would get more actively involved in all EU matters as well as matters pertaining to the North of Ireland. It would be timely to have this debate take place one day a month. I will discuss this matter with the various Ministers and get their full support and approval. The great work taking place is not being relayed to the people and I would like to think that Seanad Éireann could be the conduit for the various achievements taking place, particularly in the North-South Ministerial Council. We can let this take place and let the people know and be updated on the achievements taking place.

Senators Hannigan and Regan raised the Lisbon treaty referendum on Friday, 2 October. I am pleased to inform Senator Regan that the new posters went up overnight to point out the lie of the €1.84 minimum wage and I congratulate those who were involved in this. They went a step too far and this was the poster that really highlighted the lies that were being told by the "No" campaign on this matter. The minimum wage is enshrined in law in primary legislation passed by both Houses and is €8.65. It is something of which we can be proud on the one hand, but we can certainly give the lie to the myth being perpetrated by people who are misleading people, especially senior citizens, in many areas. I am pleased to see the posters being erected to correct the matter and to state that the minimum wage is €8.65 and, as I stated, that it is enshrined in primary legislation.

Senator Hannigan remarked on what President Obama is trying to achieve, and what he is trying to do is uplifting. As I often have stated, it is never the wrong time to do the right thing. What President Obama is trying to achieve is positive and I concur with Senator Hannigan's remarks.

While it may be the anniversary of Guinness, which is our greatest export and a world leader as an ambassador for Ireland, the Cathaoirleach and I never partook of it, of course. That is not to say that to discuss may not be always to agree. At the end of the day, we congratulate everyone in Guinness on the wonderful employment the company has given in Ireland over 250 years.