David Norris (Independent)

I second Senator Bacik's amendment to the Order of Business. With regard to the debate on the economy, there is a series of ironies which depend on context. It is extraordinary that today we are hearing more about the enormous waste within the HSE. We must place this matter in context by reflecting on the fact that the HSE proposes to charge the terminally ill, the unemployed and the homeless 50 cent for every prescription item. I demand that pressure be exerted on the HSE and the Government to have this charge withdrawn.

It is also extraordinary that not only has the Fitch credit ratings agency downgraded Ireland's sovereign debt but also that it has begun to tell the Opposition what it should do. A couple of years ago it informed us that we should get rid of the Government. It is time someone put manners on these ratings agencies. We should approach our neighbours in Europe and suggest the activities of such agencies be scrutinised and, ultimately, that they should be replaced by a fully independent international ratings agency.

During yesterday's debate on the economy which, as one of my colleagues noted, was ignored I pointed out that estimates indicated that the net flow of income from the Corrib gas field during its lifetime would be €500 billion. That amount is some ten times greater than our exposure to the banks. We are letting Shell get away with not paying one cent, while we are being given the privilege of being allowed to buy our own oil and gas at market rates. We must renegotiate with Shell in the name of the people. The Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, did so. Why should we suffer when this vast resource is available to us? I am informed that the contents of the Corrib field represent only the beginning of what is to be found.

I reiterate the call I made yesterday in respect of the National Pensions Reserve Fund and the need for legislation to be introduced. There is only one minor legal hitch which prevents our own pension funds from benefiting from the exorbitant rates being charged. Why should the rest of the world benefit from the impoverishment of our country? There is a need to consider the legislative steps that might be taken in this regard. I am trying to be of assistance by suggesting the legislation which needs to be introduced. In that context, legislation relating to the release of census data must be brought forward. This House, in passing the Statistics Act 1993, amended the position in order that census figures could be released after 75 years. In 1961 the then Minister for Justice, Charles Haughey, arranged for the data from the 1911 census to be released after only 50 years. That information is now available on the Internet. This is an extremely positive development because the registration of births only commenced in 1864. People who were aged over 62 years in 1926 -when the first census following independence was taken were born prior to the introduction of civil registration. Therefore, there are no records relating to their births. If we were to publish the 1926 statistics - almost 75 years have passed and, as stated, Mr. Haughey released the 1911 statistics in 1961 - we would be given the first snapshot of society in this country after 1916. Imagine the benefits that would flow from the tourism, to which this fantastic resource would give rise. Fáilte Ireland could enjoy massive benefits. I have been asked by the Irish Genealogical Society to introduce a short Bill which would only contain a few lines of text in order to repeat what was done in 1961. There is no reason the 1926 census figures cannot be made available. The House could easily facilitate a Bill such as that to which I refer. I am of the view the Government would be receptive to this suggestion which would be good for the country.