Ivor Callely (Independent)

Members of the House sometimes become too embroiled in the politics of issues which are outside the remit of the House and can thereby lose sight of the real issues into which we can have a meaningful input. We may throw caution to the wind to score political points. We must ensure we always apply fairness and fair procedures. There is great talk of our nation's finances, the IMF, the ECB and billions of euro. That macro picture will be addressed by those with responsibility.

As we approach budget day, I ask the Leader to ensure fairness is applied, especially to the less well-off in our society who are in need of support. He should also ensure we remain focused on people in need. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's emergency helpline has seen a massive increase in the number of telephone calls to 720,000 so far this year. They have been focused mainly on abuse and welfare issues. At the same time, cases dealt with by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul have risen by 50%. Other groups working in this area have also experienced increases of a similar magnitude. I ask the Leader, therefore, to maintain our focus on relevant issues and to give a commitment to ensure children and groups such as the ISPCC and the SVP remain on the agenda as budget day approaches.