Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I support the call by Senator Ó Murchú yesterday for a joint agreed motion on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Will the Leader facilitate that happening? He and I sat on a sub-committee which heard the most appalling tales from the victims of those bombings who were sadly and badly failed by this State over many decades. We may have an opportunity now to resurrect this issue and to try to help bring some closure for them. I appeal to Senator Cummins to play his part in achieving that.

Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Finance to attend the House to discuss our outdated and antiquated bankruptcy laws? It is a travesty of justice that people who have been caught in this unprecedented recession will be debarred from entering business for a period of 12 years. There were some recommendations that this would be reduced to five while neighbouring jurisdictions confine it to one year. We should have a good debate on that and bring sufficient pressure to bear so that the necessary changes will be made. We have been very tardy in dealing with this issue over the past three years. In that regard, we might include the issue which arose recently of Members of these Houses who may find themselves debarred as a consequence of bankruptcy pursuit. That is unfair. The people decide who represents them. That is a throwback to former days when people of property controlled the democratic system. We should reflect on that and necessary amendments to the legislation should be made.

I second the proposal of Senator Darragh O'Brien that the Minister, Deputy Hogan, would attend the House. I am a strong proponent of water charges and have been ever since the former Tánaiste, Mr. Dick Spring, introduced them back in 1983. I criticised the Labour Party for the populous decision it took under the then Minister, Deputy Howlin's stewardship of the Department, to abolish them to save the seat of the then Deputy Joan Burton in Dublin West, which was unsuccessful in itself. I ask that we have a debate on that. It is urgently required that clarity be brought to this situation. If our economy is to get on the road to recovery, it will require some certainty to restore confidence. This ongoing debate where we are phasing in pain on people is only prolonging this recession.

Interestingly, I attended an economic conference in Beijing two weeks ago and noted that China is focusing on generating its own domestic consumption to meet the targets that it needs to support its economy, which has a minimum of 7% growth annually. We must focus on doing that as well. We are also missing out on the global improvement in economic growth. We need to position ourselves so that we can avail of that. Of the many issues, this is one to which we should bring clarity quickly.