Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the good debate we had yesterday evening on Seanad reform and the work done by the group headed by Dr. Maurice Manning. I hope that some of the group's recommendations will see the light of day and that we will have an opportunity to discuss proposals in detail as they are brought forward. I also acknowledge the Leader's efforts to facilitate debates on a variety of topics, which reflect well on the Seanad.

Today the Cabinet discussed the issue of Irish Water and the additional powers for the collection of moneys owed to a utility company. This takes us down a dangerous road. It is one thing to give those powers to a State agency such as the Revenue Commissioners but it is an entirely different matter to give them to a utility company, albeit a semi-State body, which could ultimately be privatised. This proposal undermines the role of the State and gives alarming powers to an agency that lacks democratic accountability.

This evening's debate on the Spring Economic Statement will be useful but we need a wider debate on the issues arising. I ask the Leader to provide an opportunity for the House to reflect on a vision for Ireland over the next ten years. This would include where we go as a country, how we spend any money saved from the economic recovery and how we deal with public and private debt. Households throughout the country are dealing with the alarming consequences of private debt. Even individuals who are not in negative equity are finding it difficult to manage other types of debt.We are in a country which is coming out of an austerity programme but a large proportion of the population are not sharing the fruits of economic recovery. It is being felt here in Dublin but it not being felt across the rest of the country. Job creation is not being appreciated or seen in many parts of our country. Towns are on their knees and shops are continuing to close in rural areas. We have to define a vision for Ireland and the Seanad could play a role in that. I ask the Leader to reflect on it and perhaps over the coming weeks to have a day long debate on that particular issue. It would be an open ended debate with each Member being given at least 20 minutes to make a contribution which the Government would find informative and which would play a part in defining the Seanad and its role. It is a new recourse but it is one that should be used.

I apologise for going on, but tomorrow's election in the North and in Britain is a defining election and it will have massive implications for this State. I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate in the coming weeks on the outcome of that election, when a new Government is formed, given its implications for the European project and North-South relations.