Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also support the call for a debate on job creation. I welcome the Leader's response in that regard. Job creation, the correction of our fiscal deficit and a resolution to bank debt are of paramount importance in laying the foundation for the recovery of the economy.

My question to the Leader concerns a different matter. I was reliably informed in July that the report of what the Minister called the expert group, which is dealing with the European Court of Human Rights judgment, was almost ready to report by the end of the month. Subsequently, it was decided that publication would be postponed until the end of September. There seems to be no indication of that happening. I am concerned that this is a ploy whereby this is being delayed until after the referendum on children's rights. It is appalling if that is the case. I genuinely believe the people will see through it and see it for what it is. When we look at the referendum on children's rights, the public will rightly want to know whether it is a referendum to protect all children or whether it only refers to some. In other words, the unborn will not be protected as they have been up to now. If this is the case, it will have an implication for the manner in which people will approach that referendum. We will have the opportunity when the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs comes to the House to take up this issue, along with others. Before we have that debate, it is very important that we know what this expert group is saying. I will conclude by saying that I have criticised this group in the past. There are well known abortion advocates on that expert group.