Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I echo all the sentiments expressed about Jody Blake. When she left Golden in Tipperary she ushered in a golden era in the Seanad. I thank her very much for all her kindness to us all.

This week, most generous tributes were paid by Queen Elizabeth in her speech at Windsor Castle to Daniel O'Connell as a parliamentarian. This parliamentary tradition is extremely important in this country. On Sunday, the people of Carlingford will honour Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the founders of the Canadian Parliament. This is a notable tradition which Irish people have brought to Australia, South America, Canada and the United States and which has, as stated by Her Majesty during the week, also enriched the democracy of the United Kingdom. It is a proud parliamentary tradition that should be included in all our centenary celebrations.

On a different note, yesterday Mr. Justice Peter Charleton made some strong remarks about stockbroking in this country. This follows insurance levies in which business people were trading insolvently; the €64 million bailout for the banks; the bailout of the credit union in Newbridge and others elsewhere; the bankrupting of all our building societies; pension funds which are hundreds of millions in debt and accountants who, in many cases, do not appear to be accountable. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Finance to the House to discuss the problems caused by the unsatisfactory regulation of financial services in Ireland. The Minister can be assured of our support in any attempts to get some order into this sector which regularly brings itself into disrepute. The question one must ask is what on earth they are teaching in business schools these days that seven sectors cause so much annoyance and grief to the remainder of society and the economy.