Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also agree with Senator Mullins that while investigating the outrageous happenings of the past in banking, an eye also must be kept on what is happening at present, whereby small and medium-sized businesses are unable to get loans. Dean Swift wrote an essay called "A Modest Proposal" in which the Irish people who were poor ate their own young, perhaps to keep going. Small and medium-sized enterprises seeking loans must take out personal loans to such an extent that they must mortgage everything they possess and Members must examine this practice.

In addition, as Fine Gael spokesperson for education in the Seanad, I was appalled to read over the weekend that the Garda is to probe reports that pupils were handcuffed and beaten on a school trip. One parent has stated:

Over four days... my son was subjected to assaults and abuse; he was dragged from his room, handcuffed, beaten, punched and kicked, had obscene things written on his arm, and this happened many times throughout the day.

I congratulate Deputy Keating on his efforts to bring this matter into the public domain and support him in seeking either an independent inquiry or at least an inquiry undertaken by the Department of Education and Skills into such outrageous happenings.