Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I echo the voices of others who called for a debate on education, especially now, with regard to the issue of standards at second and third levels. Our reputation around the world, for education in particular, has always been extremely high. Even before our State was founded we had a very good reputation for having saints and scholars and suchlike. We always punched well above our weight when it came to sending our young graduates around the world. Our reputation is at stake now and I would like the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House to talk on this.

I welcome the great announcement yesterday by the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy John Moloney, who said that in the next three years we will see the closure of many of our old and antiquated mental hospitals, as we have known them. I refer in particular to the hospital in Mullingar which was highlighted on a "Prime Time" programme recently. Perhaps now is the time for the Minister of State to come to the House so we could debate this and other issues of mental health, especially the stigma that surrounds it.

In a less serious tone, was it not good to see Ireland's great win at Twickenham on Saturday?