Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, Bacik, Mullen, Twomey, John Paul Phelan, O'Malley, McCarthy, McDonald and Feeney called for a debate on women's participation in politics and, in most cases, expressed their disappointment that the debate had been postponed. I had agreed that it would take place today. It had been a pleasure to do so and I was looking forward to the debate immensely. Many colleagues had prepared for it and were delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the subject. However, on Thursday last I received a request from the Minister of State with responsibility for equality issues, Deputy Moloney, who is in New York and asked that the debate be postponed. I tried to arrange to have another Minister come to the House but the Minister of State said he very much wished to be present for the debate and to update the Seanad on the world conference on women's affairs, which he is attending in New York. I agreed to his request and the debate will take place in the week after St. Patrick's Day. I apologise to colleagues. I was fully committed to arranging for the debate to take place today. I look forward to it with bated breath, to say the least, and to hearing the contributions of all Members on the question of encouraging women to participate in public life. I fully support the proposal and have done so from the very first day Senators McDonald and Corrigan raised the matter in the House.

Many Senators referred to the difficulties being experienced in the banking sector. In the next full sitting week, the week following St. Patrick's Day, the Finance Bill will be debated for three full days on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I will allow the longest time possible to spokespersons and other Members who wish to speak on anything which concerns them, including NAMA and all the challenges facing the Minister for Finance. This has been requested by the leaders of the various groups.

I share Senator Fitzgerald's views on children in care and the unbelievable story carried in one of last Sunday's newspapers. I have no difficulty asking the Minister of State with responsibility for children to come to the House. He attends Cabinet and heads up his own office. This has been a huge step forward by the Government, which we all welcome. We look forward to assisting him in any shape or form because the challenges facing him are enormous. They are greater than anyone realised when the office was set up, and I wish him well in his deliberations.

With regard to Senators who called for a debate on the O'Reilly report, I will consult the leaders following the Order of Business to see how we might enhance and progress this proposal.

Many colleagues are concerned about the Broadcasting Act 2009. One of the main reasons I stood for election as a Member of the Oireachtas was to regulate local radio because it was unlicensed at the time. Senator Mooney is a broadcaster all his life and many other colleagues will recall the huge success of unlicensed radio in the past. A broadcasting Bill came before the Oireachtas for consideration in 1989 to regulate local radio and given the contribution it makes to communities, we should do everything we can to ensure local radio stations remain viable.

One section in the Act sets how to calculate the broadcasting levy. This is applied to the BAI budget for the relevant year and applied on a pro rata basis to each broadcaster's net turnover. It is extremely important that it is there and any surplus in levy income can be refunded to the industry. I have no difficulty in trying to assist colleagues. I spoke to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources briefly about this yesterday. He is doing everything he can and he fully understands the industry has suffered a massive reduction of 30% in advertising revenue, as is the case in all other sectors. We will do everything we can to support them and I will discuss further with colleagues how we can assist the request that has been made.

Senators expressed serious concern about the Good Friday issue. Senator Mooney put this in a nutshell. It is unfortunate that the sporting event is taking place but there are 363 days in the year, other than Good Friday and Christmas Day, for all sporting organisations or anyone else no matter what is his or her religious belief. I fully support leaving Good Friday as a day of abstinence. I like to think I represent the majority of people on the island of Ireland. I understand the minority viewpoint but, as a Christian, I fully support Good Friday, which is a special family day. Nothing, including the television rights of a foreign television station, should interfere with our way of celebrating the crucifixion of the good Lord on Good Friday. That should not be allowed. I fully support every colleague who uttered his or her beliefs and genuine concern about this. Hands off Good Friday and Christmas Day. We have 363 days to sell liquor and make profit after that. I hope it will stay that way.

Many colleagues called for a debate on literacy but I have already agreed to a debate on education. The future of our country depends on education.

Senators MacSharry and Dearey called for an urgent debate on the retail sector. This is of huge importance for the future. As Senator Dearey said, turnover is related to rent and everything should be done to keep retail outlets open because they employ people and have been giving a service for two and three generations. There are people in family businesses going back 70 or 80 years and for the first time the family name may not be over their doors in three months because of the difficulties they are in. No one seems to care in some cases. Senator MacSharry pointed out that a 30% reduction in local authority rates, especially in the Border counties, is not an unreasonable request. In 2001 all rates were to be reviewed but, nine years later, only two local authorities have reviewed them and they were reduced by 30%. This request should be examined immediately by the Government and I will pass it on to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government following the Order of Business.

I join Senator Coghlan in wishing the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Martin Cullen, well and I hope he makes a speedy recovery. He has been an incredible and tremendous performer. He came to the House many times. I recall the 1997 budget when Deputy Cullen was a Minister of State. I, as Leader, gave Independent Members an opportunity to discuss a budget for the first time. The debate began at 6 p.m. just as the Labour Party was making its contribution in the Dáil. The Minister came into the House with few briefing notes to make his contribution. Those of us who were present could see the huge potential he had. I wish him all the luck in the world. He has made a meaningful contribution through his membership of both Houses and I wish him well in the future.