Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I might try. Two things come together from today's debate that were on my mind coming in here. One is the casualisation, to which Senator Norris adverted, and the other is the employment figures. There is no doubt the Government must be congratulated on the number of people who have been returned to work, but we still have 321,000 people on the live register, more than 81,000 people on activation programmes and more than 41,000 single parents drawing welfare in this country. One wonders what the situation would be had the 600,000 people who emigrated not done so. The point I am making is not a criticism of the Government, as it must be complimented, but the job of work for the forthcoming Government will again be massive and the job is far from over.

My heart sank a few minutes ago. Senator Wilson adverted to the fact the Dáil might be dissolved tomorrow. I can confirm it will be. The Taoiseach announced on Midwest Radio that he will go to the park tomorrow. This saddens me greatly. It means I must start wearing the rubber on my car tyres to get around the country. We will deal with that when the time comes.

The issue of zero-hour contracts will have to be dealt with by the next Government. The issue of those who do not feature on the live register, those who would attend activation or education programmes but cannot access them because they are not on the live register, will have to be dealt with.

I support Senator Cahill. The one question I ask is why somebody is not in jail when we speak about this lady, Grace. We then find out a second person was involved in the same house of horrors. There is something terribly wrong in this country if this type of thing can go on and it is left unsaid.

I wish everybody well. As I say, I am rather saddened to hear it is all coming to an end.