Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

I agree with everything Senator Bradford has said on the Croke Park agreement. It appears that everything is on the table except the Croke Park agreement. I call for this debate in light of discussions I had recently with a senior manager in the public service who told me that if he had the power or the wherewithal to get rid of people out of the service as he chose, he could get rid of 20% of those who worked under him in his Department and increase productivity. That is a strong statement for a senior manager in the public service to make; that if he was allowed to get rid of those who were surplus to requirements, he could increase productivity.

I ask the Leader to explore the possibility of inviting the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, to debate the ongoing negotiations on the Common Fisheries Policy. The Minister is battling on our behalf at present but the tides are coming strongly against him. The House should give him any help it can. The issue should be debated. We must copperfasten what we have and maintain it if increases in quota are not achievable. Will the Leader also ask the Minister when the "O'Keeffe" Bill - our former colleague, Mr. Jim O'Keeffe proposed a Bill on the introduction of administrative rather than criminal sanctions for fishermen - will be introduced?