Ivana Bacik (Independent)

The Taoiseach's visit to the House yesterday was extremely useful for us. It was particularly welcome to hear him give the comprehensive update on developments at EU level and plans for Ireland's Presidency of the European Council next year. It was also very welcome to hear him say that he anticipates a resolution being reached on the issue of breaking the vicious cycle between banking debt and sovereign debt in early course and hopefully in October before we take up the Presidency of the European Council. We all hope those negotiations will go well over August and September and we will see that resolution.

On a related note, I believe Senator Paul Coghlan raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the banking inquiry. Perhaps in September we might have a debate on the format of a banking inquiry and how best a banking inquiry could be conducted by the Houses of the Oireachtas, given the failure of last October's referendum and given issues arising as to which committee is the most appropriate to hold it. That would be a useful debate to have in the House.

In the autumn I am sure we will have a debate on universality of benefit. I was very concerned, as were many others, at reports that the IMF was looking at universality of child benefit and other types of benefit. I was very glad to hear Nora Gibbons of Barnardos very strongly pointing out the dangers and risks of unforeseen consequences if there is any move away from the universality principle upon which child benefit is paid. She also pointed out the very important principles of support for children that child benefit symbolises. We will certainly be returning to that debate.

Looking beyond these shores over the coming couple of months, there are very worrying signs of escalating conflict in Syria. There are reports today of gunfire and attacks in the capital, Damascus. There is still obstructionism at the UN Security Council by Russia and China in particular. There is increasing frustration among UN officials in trying to bring humanitarian aid to the unfortunate civilians in Syria who are caught in the conflict. Ireland needs to be making strong representation through the EU to try to bring some sort of resolution to the conflict. I hope we will see that happen in the next couple of months.