Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir Uí Catháin. Déanfadh sé an-difríocht má úsáidimid an Ghaeilge sa Teach seo eadrainn féin, idir na daoine atá fostaithe anseo san fhoirgnimh agus idir an pobal lasmuigh. Tréaslaím le gach éinne atá an Ghaeilge á úsáid acu. Molaim go ndéanfaimid i bhfad níos mó de amach anseo. Thar cheann Sinn Féin, ba bhreá liom gach dea-ghuí a ghuí ar mo chomhleacaithe, ar fhoireann an tSeanaid agus ar fhoireann Teach Laighin le linn an bhriseadh. Tá mé aireach chomh maith go bhfuilimid ag dul ar saoire, ach nach bhfuil fadhbanna ag dul ar saoire.

While we depart on our holidays today, there will be no reprieve from the problems facing the country. I feel somewhat guilty that we are adjourning so soon. Given the range of pressing issues that require to be addressed, we should have had another day of debate tomorrow. While I appreciate that we have moved forward and that work is ongoing, the public view is that we could do more and should set a better example.

I join Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill in calling for a debate on the new flat-rate household charge, which comes on top of the plastic beg levy, refuse charges, universal social charge, the increased cost of school transport, rising interest rates on mortgages and other debt, increased charges for sewage treatment services and so on. People are feeling the pinch and it is important that the issues which make the headlines in communities are debated in this House. The people who will be most affected by this are those on low incomes, some of whom are already affected by the changes to working arrangements under the joint labour committee, JLC, system. Given his U-turn on this issue, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, should be called into the Chamber to explain his support for changes which will mean workers who are part of the JLC system will now earn little more than the minimum wage. That represents a complete flip-flop on the part of the Labour Party. What measures will the Government put in place to protect the position of workers on JLC contracts? My colleague, Senator David Cullinane, has repeatedly called for a full debate in the House on this matter, but it seems that certain Ministers' fatwa on journalists extends so far as a reluctance to come into this House to discuss pertinent issues.

The announcement that the presidential election will be held on a Thursday is a cause of disappointment to Sinn Féin. It will sideline many people who wish to vote. The Union of Students in Ireland has said it is not suitable to hold elections on a Thursday given that students studying away from home experience significant difficulties in travelling to and from their constituencies to vote. The arrangement is unfair and should be reviewed.

I have called on numerous occasions, as Gaeilge, for a debate on natural resources, achmhainní nádúrtha, but there has been no indication to date of when that might happen. Our natural resources offer a significant revenue opportunity for the Exchequer. It is only fair that the State should secure its fair share of benefits from our oil, gas, wind and wave resources. Given that oil exploration licences are currently out to tender, a debate on the issue with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, would be timely. We must ensure the State secures the dividend to which it is entitled from all of our natural resources.

Guím gach ráth ar gach éinne don samhradh. Beimid ar saoire ach beimid ag obair linn. Níor mhaith liom go dtiocfadh an teachtaireacht amach ach an oiread go mbeimid díomhaoin ar fad, agus go mbeidh gach éinne bolg le gréine ar feadh mí Lúnasa agus tús mí Meán Fómhair. Ní bheidh - beimid ag obair linn sna toghcheantair. Guím gach ráth arís don samhradh.