Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Sometimes the debate on the Order of Business consists of soundbites on important national issues, such as the fiscal or banking position, and these can be unhelpful. I would like to see a full debate on the OECD report, which was quite interesting in its observations, the EU report and the previous IMF report. We should combine a number of those important reports and have a good, incisive debate in the House over quite a number of hours where people would have the opportunity to develop the points of view which they have.

The point which has emerged from all the reports is that while people may disagree with aspects of Government policy, the general thrust of what is being done is trying to correct the fiscal position over four to five years. That is a long period and extending it is not being advocated by any of those independent bodies or any independent economist. Unless we take appropriate action we will end up as we were in the 1980s when a generation of people had to emigrate and lost the realisation of their personal potential because of a lack of opportunities.

I ask for a debate on the issue of paedophilia. I know the issue has come up in the past with regard to institutional and clerical abuse but it is much wider in society. We have concentrated on a small minority with the problem. There are issues of awareness of risk and protection of children, and there are also issues surrounding what needs to be done to identify and treat people predisposed to paedophilia. We must have this debate in the interests of our children.

With regard to the points raised by Senator Coffey, we should have a debate on the matters relating to An Bord Pleanála. If the past couple of years have taught us anything, it is that we have not had sufficient political oversight and scrutiny of many of our public institutions. Where issues such as this arise, it is important for us to have a full debate, and where people are found to be deficient, pressure should be brought to bear to allow the necessary changes - including personnel changes - that would restore the integrity and effectiveness of those public bodies.