Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

When announcing the Order of Business, I should have included No. 33, motion 20 re the budget forecast, to be taken at 5 p.m. and to conclude not later than 7 p.m. No. 1, the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009, shall resume at the conclusion of No. 33 motion 20, if not previously concluded.

Senators Donohoe, O'Toole, Alex White, Boyle, Ross, Buttimer, McFadden, Coffey and Fitzgerald all called for an inquiry into banking systems in Ireland and the putting in place of safeguards for the future so the experiences of the past will not be realised again. This is a worthwhile call and I wish to be associated with our congratulations to the new governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Patrick Honohan, who certainly made his mark at the committee meeting yesterday.

As someone, along with Senators Ross and O'Toole, who was a Member of the Oireachtas during the DIRT inquiry, the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service should set up a similar committee to investigate the proposal made this morning about bankers, investors and everyone associated with the banking world. It is a worthwhile suggestion and we could take it to the Committee on Procedures and Privileges. If it wanted to sit on Mondays and Fridays when we do not sit, we could consider if the Seanad Chamber could be given the opportunity for it to sit here. That is a matter over which the Cathaoirleach has total control and I fully respect that but to give the committee the respect and everything the people would wish to see happen and taking place, I would like to think we could do everything we possibly could here in Seanad Éireann.

While the committee members might be deliberating on that, and we fully support them in it, I certainly will announce to the House this morning that immediately after the Christmas recess I intend to have a debate in this House on banking specifically to see how banking can be freed up. I will have the Minister for Finance himself come to the House to discuss this because I have never seen so many retail friends who are holding on just for Christmas and who do not want to wake up on 1 January. This is a serious situation and it is a huge challenge. The SME sector is going through a dreadful time and we must do all we can. It is my intention on the first Thursday after the recess, if the Minister's diary allows him to be available, that we will have the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, in the House to have a debate on money becoming available for the SME sector as a matter of urgency and what we can do about it. We are not worth our salt as legislators, neither the Dáil or the Seanad, if we do not.

Now that we have taken so much equity in our major banks and will have to take more and will have to invest more on behalf of the taxpayers, the priority has got to be jobs and competitiveness next year. The Government has taken on a serious challenge on competitiveness in the public sector but those in the private sector have experienced reductions as much as 50% in their income and in their wages. We must protect the captains of industry who employ people and continue to employ them. Their savings are now nearly at an end, their overdraft facilities are almost at an end and something must be done in this regard. I ask colleagues over the Christmas period to be prepared for that all-day debate that we hope we can have on 21 January on how we can free up capital for small and medium-sized businesses and the retail sector in particular.

Senator Donohoe and others expressed serious concerns regarding children at three, four and five years of age and about supports for children. Senator Mary White and Senator Prendergast called for a debate on suicide. I acknowledge and congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, on working so hard in this portfolio since he was appointed by the Taoiseach and on the €47 million his Department has acquired and ring-fenced in the budget. It is a start to meet the challenge, as the Senators have said this morning, and I gave a commitment yesterday that we will have a debate on this at the earliest time after we come back.

Senator O'Toole raised No. 33, motion 21, the all-party motion regarding free trade with Colombia. We certainly have supported our MEPs and our Government in everything they are trying to do about the dreadful circumstances in which the people of Colombia find themselves.

Senators O'Toole, Buttimer, Ó Brolcháin and Bacik raised the issue of hunting, with Senator O'Toole proposing this should be left to local authorities in each area. This is something we can discuss when the legislation is to come to the House. I understand it is at an advanced stage and Senator O'Toole has made a worthwhile proposal and suggestion in this regard in the Seanad this morning.

Senator O'Toole also called for a debate on education and I have already agreed and acceded to this taking place. He also called for a debate with the Minister for Health and Children, as did Senator Alex White, on the Supreme Court decision. We certainly will discuss this at the earliest time after our return. The Minister has made a statement on it since then and we will do everything we can in this House to support the sensitive circumstances in the Supreme Court outlined to the House by Senator White.

Senators Daly, Ó Brolcháin, Leyden, Norris and Bacik called for a debate on Gaza. Senator Daly outlined the 550 page report to the House and the horrific experience of three young girls being shot dead. I have no difficulty in agreeing to having the Minister for Foreign Affairs come here and discuss this after the recess.

Senator Leyden raised the report of the Law Reform Commission regarding the protection of persons in their home. The commission also presented a draft form of a Bill for legislation for the consideration of the Minister and we will deliberate on this over Christmas and I have no difficulty in having a debate on this on our return.

Senator Buttimer called for a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on flood issues. As I have said in the House yesterday, this is something we certainly will try to do everything we can and not let go away to see whether we can help and assist those unfortunate people who have had this horrific experience over recent weeks.

Senator Ó Brolcháin called for a debate on community development and I have no difficulty in having time left aside for this. Perhaps at its next Private Members' Time, the Green Party could consider having this as the topic.

Senators Prendergast and Mary White called for a debate on ageism and everything to do with the challenges facing those who have a huge amount of experience and complete dedication to work. I fully agree with Senator Mary White on outlining the experience of those in the workforce in the United States of America. Perhaps the Government should seriously consider this and I certainly agree to have a debate on that take place in the House. It is something for our parliamentary party, in which the Senator has always been so forceful in deliberating on those issues. I fully support that this morning.