Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I endorse everything Senators Leyden and Mullins said about the forthcoming children's rights referendum. We will have public meetings in Cavan and Monaghan next Tuesday and Wednesday and we are out canvassing people as well to try to get this referendum passed with as large a majority as possible.

Like Senator Barrett, I was amazed to hear this morning that tens of thousands of people who have paid the household charge have received warning letters demanding ¤127 from them, which includes penalties and interest. The chief executive of the Local Government Management Agency urged people who had received such letters to contact the agency immediately. He went on to say that if householders do not notify the agency, they will receive a second letter and technically could face a penalty. In the name of God, what is going on? I do not blame the Minister. He has charged this agency with the responsibility of collecting this money. Tens of thousands of people who have already paid the charge are receiving these letters and if they do not telephone or e-mail the agency, they will get another one. What will that cost the Exchequer? I call on the Leader to have that matter investigated and inform the House of the position when it returns the week after next.

I join Senator Harte and other speakers in calling on the Minister for Finance to come to the House to discuss the promissory note well in advance of next March. That is a very serious matter and, as Senator Gilroy outlined, it involves the payment of billions of euro by taxpayers.