Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

A number of weeks ago, there were requests from both sides of the House for a debate on women's participation in public life in Ireland following the very successful report in which Senator Bacik was involved. We asked for a debate this week given that yesterday was international women's day. I ask the Leader if that debate can take place as soon as possible. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to ensure we have that debate today because it is relevant.

Yesterday I got an e-mail, as I am sure many Members did, from a mother of two from Letterkenny who is also a businesswoman. She started her own business two years ago. I am sure many Members will have read the e-mail which made for very distressing reading. The woman states: "Today I write in total desolation and in desperation of any hope for me, my family and my business." She writes that when she sought to have a moratorium on her mortgage extended by her bank, she was refused and her food money now goes to Ulster Bank. She then describes being refused an overdraft from Allied Irish Banks and refers to a number of other banks in her e-mail. It is distressing to note that when the woman sought advice from the money advice and budgeting service the advice she was given - she may have been summarising - was to close her business and go on the dole. The sentiments expressed in this e-mail reflect the anger, despair and hopelessness felt by many people. The systematic failure of the Government to be accountable to citizens has given rise to a widespread sense of rage.

On child care, in May 2009 the Minister of State with responsibility for children announced the establishment of an independent review group to examine child deaths. Last night, he announced the establishment of a further review group. Where is the leadership, responsibility and accountability in government when life and death issues are treated in this manner? There is no accountability to the Houses for the death in care of 20 young people and the inadequacies in the foster care system.

A few months ago, when the House debated foster care, many Senators placed on record the inadequacies of the foster care system. Do such debates mean anything when information such as that published in The Sunday Business Post at the weekend emerges subsequently? The Minister should come to the House to state the position accurately and honestly.

The lack of responsibility to citizens is also evident the banking sector and we see it in today's disturbing statement by the Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, on the report on the lost at sea scheme. The Ombudsman believes her work has been compromised. I call for an opportunity to debate her report in the House.