Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

I join with previous speakers who spoke about the ESRI report. The report concluded that four out of ten families would be better off, however one defines "better off", on the dole, and that 44% of people with children are better off not working. I do not want to be repetitive but from a psychological and social point of view it does nobody any good to be on the dole, sitting at home, having a reduced level of interaction with people and suffering the loss of opportunities. The list is endless as to the reasons people should be working and they could not be considered to be better off by being on the dole. A debate covering this issue would be useful and I urge the Leader to ask the Minister, Deputy Burton, to come to the House for such a debate. Perhaps we could be useful in putting forward suggestions or thrashing the matter out in ensuring this report is fully reviewed and discussed.

I join in supporting previous speakers regarding the issue of moneylenders. Vulnerable people are being treated in the way Senator Hayden described. It is worrying that it is not shocking. We hear of these types of instances all the time. It is extremely disturbing. I would welcome the introduction of legislation to cover this issue. It is an issue the Department of Justice and Equality would have to prioritise. There is a good deal happening in the Department, but this is an issue that could be put at the top of the list of priorities. Linked to this issue is the area of debt collection. It is another area that is quite unregulated. Vulnerable people in similar circumstances are being approached by "heavies", for want of a better word, who use threatening language-----