Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Bacik, Keaveney, Ormonde, Norris, Leyden, Twomey, Ó Murchú, Coffey, Ó Brolcháin, Hanafin, Buttimer, Callely and O'Reilly expressed their disappointment in regard to the issue of passports not being processed. Public sector reform is urgently needed. In response to Senator John Paul Phelan, my understanding of a work to rule is doing the job one is appointed to do. I agree with him in respect of his interpretation.

In recent weeks Members on all sides of the House have called for the Government to go back to talks, and talks have started. Talks will bring this issue to a successful conclusion which we hope will be to everyone's satisfaction, or nearly everyone. I join the leaders in the House in calling on the personnel, regardless of how infuriated or upset they feel, to leave the matter to the negotiations for a period of time in the national interest. That will give everyone an opportunity to conduct their business affairs and give our country a chance in these very difficult economic times. I refer to those who have jobs because we heard on the Ryan Tubridy radio show this morning, as we have heard on the various television shows and every other show, about the numbers of people who are unemployed. They are the people who are listening and who must wait until the economy becomes favourable again for them to get gainful employment.

Senator Ó Murchú has been a trade union member for a long time, and Senator O'Toole has been a guiding light to the trade union movement and has participated in social partnership, which I have always advocated, as I have always congratulated those who were the founding fathers of social partnership. A consensus must be agreed but as Senator Hanafin said earlier in regard to benchmarking, it was important at the time. We are now facing a different set of challenges because of the wage scales in the United Kingdom, European countries and the United States of America. These are our competitors and we are no longer a low cost economy. Young boys and girls must come into an era where competitiveness is the order of the day and everyone is given a chance.

I have no difficulty in the House discussing this issue at a future date but as we are all aware, a Cabinet reshuffle is being announced by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann as we speak. As we are aware also, two appointments have to be made to Cabinet and it is not easy to arrange debates until those appointments are made. I compliment the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, who is doing everything he can in a very difficult set of circumstances. We all give him our support and when the time is opportune, whether that is tomorrow, the next day or whenever, to have this debated in the House, especially in regard to the transport issue, I will come back to the leaders to tell them the earliest possible time this debate can take place. I am in full support of Members debating this issue in the House.

I have given an undertaking to the House also that on the return of the Minister for Health and Children, I will raise the issue of the centralising to Dublin of the processing of medical cards for those over 70, which is very unsatisfactory. I want to see that decision reversed and the process returned to the former health board areas, which was fair and satisfactory. As public representatives we could always make our case and get an understanding but now we are holding on the telephone line for 15 or 20 minutes, and then we lose the connection. This is not a service; it is anything but. I have given my word that the House will debate this matter following consultation with the Minister's office. Members will be aware that the Minister only returned from New Zealand yesterday.

Senator Bacik called for a debate on jobs. The Finance Bill 2010 will be before the House tomorrow, Thursday and possibly Friday, and that issue can be raised with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Lenihan, when he is present in the House tomorrow morning to take Second Stage of that Bill.

Senator Keaveney called for a debate on republicanism. I have no difficulty in allowing time for such a debate. It is an opportune time for such a debate given that Easter is approaching.

Senator Ormonde called for a debate on education, in particular reform of the leaving certificate examination. I have no difficulty allowing time for such a debate.

I agree with Senator Norris's comments in regard to the reduction of 6.5% in the allocation of the Jack and Jill Foundation which probably gets the best value for money. I fully support his call for a debate in this regard. Members will be aware that there is available to them a mechanism through which matters of real urgency can be brought to the attention of the Cathaoirleach and that this should be done by 12.50 p.m. on a full sitting day. This issue could perhaps be brought to the attention of the House by way of this mechanism to see how we can progress the serious concerns of the Jack and Jill Foundation.

Senators Leyden, Ó Brolcháin, Regan, Hanafin, Buttimer and Donohoe called for a further debate on the value of Seanad Éireann. I believe all fair minded people will agree with what has been said in regard to the value of the Seanad. The former Minister of State, Senator Leyden, stated he always looks forward to debating legislation and the commonsensical amendments thereto from Members of this House. I believe many colleagues do not wish that a majority of Dáil Members would have, as mentioned in the media, the powers to remove the President, a judge or to veto in Brussels issues such as taxation. Nobody wants this to happen. I believe also that many hard-working, dedicated Members on the Fine Gael benches in this House do not wish to see this happening.