John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I agree with Senator Norris in his call for a debate on facilities for deaf people. In the last Seanad we had a debate on the provision of facilities for deaf citizens and I would welcome such a debate if it could be arranged in the next few weeks.

Senator O'Reilly took the words out of my mouth because the issue I wanted to raise was pensions for spouses of the self-employed. Senator Harris said that when he was growing up in rural Cork retirement was something that did not exist. The reality is that because of the policies of this Government, retirement is not an option for people in many parts of rural Ireland. The Government has suspended the early retirement scheme for farmers and it has now done a U-turn on pensions for spouses of the self-employed, whether they are 65, 66, 68 or whatever age. That people who have paid their PRSI and contributed to the running of a business should be so treated by the Minister, Deputy Mary Hanafin, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and this Government is a shocking disgrace and we should debate it. When this issue first arose about a month ago I called for a debate on pensions for the spouses of the self-employed and I ask the Leader to arrange that.

I join with previous speakers who asked for a debate on banking.