John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Economies around the world are slowly coming out of recession and it looks as if the long-term difficulty will be the long-term unemployed. Will the Leader consider arranging a debate in which Senators could make suggestions to the Government on FÁS-sponsored job creation and other employment techniques that could be used to get people back to work quickly? We could fast-track ideas that might help to stave of the loss of jobs. I refer, in particular, to the retail sector, in respect of which we could work hand in hand with Northern Ireland to establish a tax regime such that there would be no benefit associated with travelling across the Border. Criminal gangs exploit price differences on both sides of the Border, particularly with regard to fuels, and claim a political motive. The Seanad would serve its time well by addressing this issue.

With regard to the expenses controversy, will the Leader highlight the very real part of politics that the media refuse to consider? It has been most unusual for Senators to have five-year terms. In the early 1980s there were three elections one after another. Certain individuals were elected in the first two and lost the third. In today's terms, this cost a Member of the Dáil €100,000 in the year of an election and a Senator, €30,000. There is no security of employment. We are not employees but Members. We do not have the rights of an employee. The reality is that we are self-employed and have real costs because we are in the public eye. I heard one Member here say he gives up to a third of his salary in donations every year. We should have a full debate on the matter. The expenses regime exists to help with what was a very difficult position for politicians. The media would be the first to complain if politics became a rich man's preserve.