Ivana Bacik (Independent)

He also referred to the changes to the rate of VAT and the travel tax. We must all bear in mind that the Government is between a rock and a hard place in terms of the IMF-EU deal. It is a real difficulty. We need to debate the basis upon which we will fund an initiative, but it is clear that such an initiative is needed and that it is very difficult to identify a source of funding, given the constraints as a consequence of the activities of previous Governments in the last 14 years.

Will the Leader allow a debate on the training of gardaí? This issue will be debated on the Adjournment this evening and several Members raised it yesterday with the Minister for Justice and Equality in the course of the debate on the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998. The announcement that recruitment of gardaí through the college in Templemore will be put on ice for several years is a source of great concern. The Minister said yesterday that his hands were tied by the IMF-EU deal-----