Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I agree with Senator O'Brien that we need a debate on the issues around the EU deal done last week and the question of whether we will have a referendum in the new year. I am delighted we will have the opportunity tomorrow, when the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton is here, to try to tease out the question of whether a referendum will be necessary and, if it is to be held, what it will be seen as. I did not hear the Minister for Finance's initial comments, but I read the interview he gave to The Irish Times in which he says that the practical politics — the shorthand — will be whether we want to maintain Ireland's position as a eurozone country. We need to tease out whether that is a correct interpretation of how it will be seen and that is a different question to the one as to the content of the referendum. We need more time to debate those issues.

I renew a call for a debate on an issue I raised earlier in the week, on Tuesday, on the ESRI-UCD report on changing family forms. This important report looks at the changing demographic in Ireland and the changing make-up of family and there are political consequences from this. One of these is the need for more flexible work practices and the case for paid paternity leave, even just for a short time, to enable fathers get greater recognition in the workplace. I seek a full debate on this in the new year. I noticed that during the debate on the Social Welfare Bill on Tuesday, the Minister, Deputy Burton, pointed out that the report has implications for social welfare policy and social protection and how payments will be made in the future. A debate on this would be very useful.

I also seek a debate on education. A report from the CSO today indicates that Ireland is joint first in the European Union for third level attainment among those aged between 25 and 34. Some 48% of these have a third level qualification, well above the EU average of one-third. This is interesting and a debate on the issue would be beneficial.

All of us will have huge concerns about the report from the historical inquiries team yesterday, on the Miami showband massacre in 1975, which showed the team found RUC special branch involvement. This is something we need to debate in the House.