Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask for three debates to be arranged in the early new year, preferably in January. The first debate I seek is on the Legal Services Bill. I am disappointed to learn that the Fine Gael Party is rowing back on its position on this Bill to keep the Labour Party happy. I also seek a debate on the proposal to reduce the age of consent from 17 years to 16 years and the potential effects any such change would have. The third debate I seek is on junior certificate reform as I wish to raise serious concerns about the introduction by the Minister of a school certificate which would reinforce inequality among schools.

I echo the concerns expressed across the Chamber about the National Asset Management Agency. In the interest of openness, transparency and truth, the absence of which brought the country to its knees, it would be wise of the Minister for Finance if he were to make a statement on the issue before the House rises for Christmas. I have been receiving e-mails for a long time about secret deals, hidden facts and a lack of accountability to the House on NAMA's write-downs for developers. Data protection is to some degree mitigating against the truth emerging. NAMA is a State asset management agency owned by us, the taxpayers, and we deserve to know what is going on. If secret or hidden deals are taking place and people in the agency are under pressure, that is wrong.

This House and the public deserve to know the truth. It would be wise if the Minister for Finance were to address these serious allegations this week.