Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Senator Fitzgerald raised an important issue concerning the women's prison. We must not take a simple approach to this issue, in which there is considerable interest, as there is also a legislative responsibility in the matter. We have created an imperative whereby people who do not pay their television or credit union bills are thrown into jail. What kind of a modern society are we running? While I would be pleased to have a debate on the prison service, we should examine legislation and ask the reason we have neglected to amend the legislation which allows and, in fact, demands that people are put in prison for minor indebtedness.

The issue Senator Fitzgerald raises about people in negative equity is similar. People who are experiencing negative equity may be forced to sell their homes in the next year or two and will need support. I make a distinction between those who cannot repay their mortgages, an issue raised by Senators MacSharry, McFadden and others in recent months, and those who must, for some reason, sell their homes. The latter group will find themselves paying off the difference between the sale price and the value of the mortgage for the rest of their lives.

Senator Fitzgerald also raised an issue related to pensions. In recent days, the media has made a great sport of chasing people around asking whether they will give back their pensions etc. While this serves as an excellent diversion and distraction, serious issues have arisen which need to be discussed. I would welcome a debate on what principles should govern pension entitlements and how pensions should be paid out. If changes are required, we should make them. No one, however, is engaging in the type of detailed examination of the issue required.

Deputy Leo Varadkar published legislation in recent days, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010, in which he realistically proposes to reduce by 10% all costs in which the Government has an input. These include the cost of electricity, gas, bus and train fares, airport charges, television licences, motorway tolls, college registration fees and State examination fees. Every single State supplier of resources and services to the State has been required to reduce fees and costs by 8% to 10% in the past two years. This Government has been remiss in not doing the same in those areas it controls and over which it has influence. This is far more important than taking shillings off some politicians.