Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I am encouraged by the calls today for the need for justice and fairness for every citizen and for ethics in corporate governance. Many Members have voiced the stress of the ordinary people who are concerned about their mortgage repayments and that they will lose their homes, who cannot get credit for their businesses and who are saddled with debt. We need, as Senator Harris said, the Government and the State to act as a tough referee and enforce its legislation against the likes of Anglo Irish Bank, Mr. Fingleton and Mr. Boucher. It is fundamentally wrong they are getting these top-ups after the €500,000 cap was put on the banks' chief executives' salaries. Will the Government enforce its legislation against these people? We must extend that code of morality and ethics to all aspects of Irish life, particularly in retailing. I was encouraged to hear the news this morning that Penneys-Primark are removing from their stores padded bras for seven to ten year old children. The sexualisation of our young children is an outrage. I have a nine year old daughter. I want her to have her childhood. I do not want her to be encouraged by consumerism that is negative and damning. Our codes of ethics and morality must extend to all aspects of our lives. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment might examine that also.