Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I agree with some of the points made by Senator Coffey on how we can help school leavers. On Tuesday evening last, we debated job creation initiatives. Perhaps that debate should be ongoing. Many school leavers and third level graduates will be in difficulty and initiatives such as courses and work experience programmes will be necessary. These programmes are in place but they must be relevant. We must have a vision of where jobs will be in the future. Coupled with that debate should be a vision of our society in the future. The whole country is changing hugely.

The Government states we must cut €3 billion from public spending next year. The Seanad must begin to debate how we can make these cuts. We must work constructively in this regard and not constantly knock our opponents' suggestions, whether they are good, bad or indifferent. We should adopt a different approach. I agree that there must be opposition, but let us try to be constructive.

New planning guidelines are to be proposed to lift the ban on one-off housing, which would be welcome. We may have an opportunity to examine and discuss the proposals in this Chamber because a planning Bill is to be introduced and the two matters are closely linked. I, therefore, ask the Leader to arrange a discussion on the proposed guidelines before the planning legislation is brought before the House.