Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader make arrangements for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to come to the Seanad as soon as possible to discuss the role of county enterprise boards in responding to closures such as that announced by Pfizer? The county enterprise boards have a statutory mandate to act as a task force in the event of such closures, but they are struggling in terms of resources.

Senators O'Toole and Hannigan raised the matter of the 116000 number for a missing children hotline. I have raised this issue on a number of occasions on the Order of Business and the Adjournment and the Minister has discussed it in the House. ComReg has informed me that although the number has been allocated, it is not in use. I have asked it to provide details of the criteria used in taking back a number that is not being used, although it has been tendered. This is the first anniversary of the publication of the Ryan report and more than 400 children are missing from the care of the HSE. Given all of this, we should examine the role of the Oireachtas in addressing this issue and the reports which are placed before us such as the Ryan and Murphy reports.

I have asked the Government to establish a joint committee on the protection of children and vulnerable adults. This would provide a clear focus and be a forum in which to consider all policy and legislation. Yesterday, in his response to the report of the Ombudsman for Children, the Minister of State indicated that he was open to such a consideration. I ask the Leader to convey my request to the Government as a matter of urgency.

I am struck by a tragic story in today's newspapers regarding a woman who took her life on a railway track, following a cut in her social welfare payment and owing to pressures in the payment of mortgage arrears. Life is precious and nothing makes it worth losing one's life. It is important that we send a message that everything passes. These times will pass. If one is under pressure, whether emotional or financial, one should pick up the telephone and talk to someone.