Ivor Callely (Independent)

I support the call by Senator Coffey and others for a debate on the future for young people. As a parent of a young person who has just completed the leaving certificate, I am delighted to say that most young people go on to third level education, unlike in my time. I have another son who is coming out of college and he is asking the questions that we are asking in this House. That is why I support the call for a debate. Such a debate should be meaningful, with appropriate briefing documents available to us and the appropriate personnel available to participate in that debate. It should be done in a structured manner.

With the global depression, there are not great opportunities for young people today. What can we do and what innovative incentives can we put in place? Can we come up with a national plan on how we go about this? Is it to be done by solving the banking crisis first? Is it to be done by ensuring credit will be available for people who want to take risks and be rewarded accordingly? Is it to be done by creating the smart economy or by creating areas of environmentally friendly policies? There is a range of issues and I would support such a debate.

I would like the Leader to reconsider his response to me on yesterday's Order of Business, when I asked for a debate on carers. His previous response was somewhat different, and I think he agrees that we need an appropriate debate on carers.

Can the Leader arrange appropriate documents for a debate to be held at a later stage on State supports and all matters relating to domestic violence?