Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I support Senator Whelan's proposals, and also those of Senator Conway on older people. Establishing a council for the status of older people would be a good move. As he stated, people are living longer and are healthier, but we need to facilitate them in the provision of services.

I would like the leader of Fianna Fáil to come into the House to explain something to me. Senator Barrett alluded to courses in mathematics. Perhaps the Fianna Fáil Party should take a course in mathematics and then explain to us how we got to the position where the next generation, not this one, will be compromised. This generation of students will be looked after. However, the generation coming after it and the ones after that concern me more. I have a daughter who is seven years old. She will not be going to university for ten years and I want her to be able to go. If she can afford the fees or if I can afford them, so be it. However, I want her generation to have the same chances as past generations since fees were abolished. There are many families who can afford the fees and many working-class taxpayers consider they are paying their taxes to pay for rich kids who can afford an education. The debate in England has moved in that direction. Any interviews one sees-----