Senator Bacik calls for debates on Banking, Third Level Education, and Women’s Particpation in Politics
Order of Business
Senator Ivana Bacik:I second the amendment proposed by Senator Fitzgerald calling for a debate on this most disturbing report, which is of deep concern to all of us. In 2010, with all the revelations and reports we have had, we are still seeing such immense failings in our child protection system.
I also seek a debate on banking on a day when the front page of the Irish Independent states AIB will impose a 0.5% hike in mortgage rates, causing immense hardship to many consumers. The reason for this increase is that the bank has posted enormous losses of €2.3 billion for 2009. We know why this is so, the bank over-lent and gambled on risky developments. It holds assets of €21 billion linked to property and construction and is facing 1,000 job losses. The most bitter pill for the taxpayer to swallow is that the Department of Finance has stated the Minister for Finance cannot do anything about the mortgage rate hikes even though we know there will be a race to the top as other lenders raise mortgage rates. We need a debate on this. We have put billions of euro into these banks yet the Department says the Minister cannot stop them raising their interest rates, nor can he get the banks to increase credit and lend to small businesses in need of credit. We need an urgent debate on this. It is a very strong argument for the Labour Party’s policy of nationalisation of the banks. It is most disheartening to see the Green Party fiddling while the economy crashes and burns and to see the parliamentary party of the Green Party playing pass the parcel with ministerial offices and the spoils of office.
Senator Denis O’Donovan:Senator Bacik would like that parcel.
Senator Donie Cassidy:Senator Bacik would like the hassle.
Senator Ivana Bacik:It is most unedifying. In the criminal system there is much criticism of the rotating door in the prison system. It would be more damaging to see a rotating door in the Cabinet as Green Party Ministers come and go out of office in order to give everyone a share of the spoils.
I also ask for a debate on third level education. As someone who has been involved in third level education for many years, I was very concerned at reports of concerns about grade inflation. We need to debate this as a matter of urgency to ensure there has not been unjustified inflation in grades. We must also take on board concerns of Google and other big employers, particularly on a day when we are debating job creation. There is a difference in grade structures across different disciplines and we must be mindful of this. Generally, grades in the sciences, mathematics and engineering tend to be higher because the scale used for marking is broader and goes up to 100, whereas in arts and humanities we do not tend to mark that high. There has been pressure on many universities to raise grades at the top end in the arts and humanities faculties because externs are telling us to do this. We must consider this in the context of international comparisons and the differences between the disciplines in third level.
I also ask for a debate on women’s participation in politics. The Leader indicated he would provide an answer on today’s Order of Business on whether we will have that debate next Tuesday.