Michael McCarthy (Labour)

If we wait long enough, we will probably get a bedtime story.

I wish to raise a number of issues, including Anglo Irish Bank. Is the Leader aware that directors' loans will be pursued? Last night I saw RTE reporter, Charlie Bird, being hunted from the door of a $4.5 million pad in the United States by someone who is now wanted by the Garda concerning the shenanigans in Anglo Irish Bank. We should examine the recovery process for the economy, including the minor ways by which we can rebuild the rural economy. Yesterday on the Order of Business Senator O'Donovan requested a debate on the fishing industry and the marine sector generally. Senator Ó Domhnaill has rightly pointed out that the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, DeputyHanafin's tourism brief has a serious economic aspect. We can use these Departments to reboot the rural economy. If we can find €40 billion for Anglo Irish Bank, surely we can find much smaller budgets to fund these Departments and give Ministers flexibility in promoting Ireland's indigenous activities.

I wish to comment on the reduction in the number of special needs assistants. There was no such thinking when the Act was brought forward in 2004. We are dealing with vulnerable children with disabilities and it is not good enough to take an accountant's or an economist's view of such resources and withdraw SNAs, particularly in the middle of a school year when trust and friendship have been built. We are dealing with children with disabilities who are the most vulnerable members of our society. I call on the Tánaiste and newly appointed Minister for Education and Science to reverse her predecessor's decision.