Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I will be very brief. This is an opportunity to discuss the programme for Government. I compliment Senator O'Toole for initiating this discussion at this time. I wish the Minister every success in his role and I look forward to returning to the Seanad and having many debates with him on this issue. Hopefully, this is not my last speech in the Seanad.

There are two areas I wish to address and which I have touched on many time, one of which is political reform. I want the future of politics to be about policy issues. There are very fine people on all sides of the House who can discuss and, perhaps, place a different emphasis on policy issues. For the future, let us get away from the political, personal assassination that has taken place down through the years. I want no more of that. We are into a new era of politics. I want honesty and I am glad the Taoiseach has expressed the concept of honesty and integrity. I want that to be part of the politics with which I grew up. I do not want any more of this flip-flop across the floor where nobody can be heard at the end of the day, where the item of the moment is discussed on the Order of Business and, therefore, nothing else happens. It is used in order to get media coverage. I do not want that in politics.

The other area in which I have an interest is that of education, be in preschool education, the five-year plan at second level, in-service training, how points can be initiated for mathematics, third level and back-to-education and how that filters through into the education system. There are many courses that are defunct and should be scrapped. Let us look again at that whole area of the concept of back to education.