John Gilroy (Labour)

I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's suggestion that we set time aside to give a full airing to the very complex issues surrounding the fiscal compact. This House is the ideal setting to calmly and rationally discuss issues of public policy and complex issues, such as the fiscal compact. If this House did not exist, there would be no forum in which issues such as this could be fully aired. Critics of the House might say this could be done in the Dáil but much of what passes for debate there leaves a lot to be desired. It is not the most effective place for issues such as this to be teased out. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, was here yesterday to take the Education (Amendment) Bill. At the end of his speech, he was effusive in his praise of the contribution this House has made in teasing out these delicate issues. Senator Power made some excellent points in last night's debate, which the Minister took on board. If this House did not exist, those points would have been lost in this legislation. It is therefore important to lay time aside to discuss the fiscal compact and other issues concerning medium and long-term public policy.