Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The Fianna Fáil women are formidable women in the image of Gráinne Mhaol. I put myself in that league also.

TáFoinse againn in the Irish Independent, which is really exciting. It is important to speak Irish every day - beagáinín Gaeilge gach lá.

On a serious matter, we have had very robust debates on many different issues at Oireachtas committees in recent weeks. I feel we are lacking something in this Chamber. Other than on the Order of Business, when we come to discuss the serious issues in our society, the debates are somewhat flat and there is no dialogue or engagement with the Minister. All we can do is make a statement and there is no discussion between the Minister and Senators. To some extent the Oireachtas committees are getting better and we need to get our act together to be innovative and have proper dialogue on the social and economic issues in our country.

One of the top issues, which I mentioned last year, is the interim report of the Social and Economic Forum chaired by Dr. Maureen Gaffney on child literacy and social inclusion. The report highlighted that one in three children in disadvantaged areas has serious literacy problems. In the 21st century the importance of literacy cannot be overstated. It opens the door to education, economic and health benefits for the individual and for society as a whole. Not only does it affect the children who are illiterate, but also their children. I would like us to have a proper discussion and dialogue between the Minister for Education and Science and ourselves here in the Seanad on this serious social issue. One in three children leaves national school with serious literacy problems.