Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I congratulate Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh on the birth of his baby. On the Adjournment yesterday evening I raised the issue of the pan-European emergency telephone number for missing children, 116000. The reply from the Minister of State was detailed and a commitment was given but without outlining a timeframe. Perhaps the Leader can ascertain the timeframe for the number being introduced to this country.

I agree with my colleague, Senator Sheahan, on his comments on the banks and the code of ethics and the code of practice for receivers. I go further by saying we need to review company law in this country. Examiners have been appointed to companies for justifiable reasons, in order to save jobs, and this has worked in a number of cases. However, my problem is where there is a write-down of debt of some 85-90% and after 12 months or 18 months the company is profitable and the people who suffered the 85-90% write-down get nothing. The directors of these companies pay themselves bonuses and dividends. There must be a review of company law.

There should be an examiner system in this country and it has worked well but when a company returns to buoyancy and makes money, there should be a reasonable expectation that the company honours the debts written down by the examiner. I would like the Leader to speak to the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation-----