Senator Bacik asks to continue debates on fiscal compact, and also suggests more action to celebrate anniversaries and centeneries of our famous writers

Order of Business

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Senator Ivana Bacik: I join Senator O'Brien and the whole House in condemning the murder in Tallaght of the young girl which has shocked all of us. It was a particularly horrific crime and we send our sympathies to her family.

It is a good idea to continue to have debates on the fiscal compact and to set aside more time for this in the coming weeks. Given what is taking place as we speak in Greece and the negotiations at EU level on the Greek bailout, which is bringing the euro currency to the brink once again, it is clear that this situation is changing all the time. When we debate the fiscal compact, as we did yesterday, we should do so in light of the changing context. I like Senator O'Brien's idea of a full day of debate but it might be more helpful to spread it over several weeks as conditions change. This would assist us more in how we interpret the provisions of the fiscal compact. The provisions, as they stand and as I have read them, are rather technical. It is a matter of context as well.

I refer to the letter the Leader received from the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, commending the Seanad on its debate on job creation and the ideas we all put forward. I was pleased the Minister took the ideas on board. It would be helpful to have further debates on this matter.

One thing that struck me this week was the vast capital that London is making from the anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth. Colleagues will be aware that yesterday marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. Many events are under way not only in London but throughout England to commemorate Dickens and to celebrate his life and achievements. We have a rich cultural and literary heritage In Ireland. Senator Norris has done a great deal in his work on James Joyce to encourage people to come here to celebrate the legacy of James Joyce. Last year, Trinity College held a symposium on Samuel Beckett. We must be more willing and proactive about exploiting centenaries or anniversaries of the births and deaths of our great writers and we should celebrate them in a way similar to that currently taking place in London, which is bringing a great deal of tourism and trade there. We can learn from this and it is another idea that we might bring to the Minister.