Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The final point raised by Senator Fitzgerald should be considered by the House. It goes back to the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 which deals with the matter of responsibilities, as well as other legislation. Very often we pass legislation in the Houses which does not allow Ministers to interfere or become involved in certain matters. The point raised by Senator Fitzgerald is important. It is important, therefore, that the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy Áine Brady, come before us to outline what authority she has. We should also invite the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, given that he is in the middle of a row with one of the bodies answerable and accountable to him. There seems to be a conflict, but I was heartened when I heard him say he would direct the body to do various things. That would be useful.

Recently, I checked into a question we have discussed in the House many times, namely, where Ireland stands on Vietnamese adoptions. I found that authorities such as UNICEF and others had advised the Minister of State not to proceed with those adoptions, so he was acting with due care and attention. We need a debate to have a balanced view. Then we can focus on the questions raised by Senator Fitzgerald, those being what should be done, what is a Minister of State's authority, what we expect him or her to do and what he or she can do.

Twice recently, I was approached by street musicians, entertainers and buskers who told me about how they feel threatened, abused and frightened on Grafton Street and elsewhere in Ireland by organised gangs of beggars. They were referring not to people who sit at a street corner looking for the price of a cup of coffee but to organised groups that abuse children by sending them out barefoot and threadbare to sit and look sad and helpless while taking up prime spots to beg for money. We should debate this kind of abuse. While it is bad enough on its own, the pimps behind it, and they are no more than that, use force to get buskers, street entertainers and street musicians to move on. I would like the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to inform the House what authority rests with the authorities in this regard, what can be done and what should be done. I look forward to having a discussion on this matter.