During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said, It has been most interesting to hear Senators MacSharry, Walsh and Harris speak with a positive attitude on action that can be taken...

We will have a debate tomorrow on the economy and I am delighted it is happening. I thank the Leader for organising it.

I support the words of Senators Norris and Coghlan who asked whether we must limit the Order of Business as a number of Senators wishing to speak will not get in each time. I suggest we have such a debate. I do not like the thought of item No. 1 being taken without debate because it should be debated. The most valuable, vibrant, interesting part of the day in the Seanad is very often the Order of Business. By all means, let us limit the length of time we have to speak to one and a half minutes, but let us make sure we will all have the chance to speak. We should debate the issue today.

I raise one other matter. In spite of all the challenges facing us, we should not put the issue of education on a long finger.

Two figures stood out for me during the past month. When the leader of Hewlett Packard announced the creation of 50 jobs — not very many — he was asked what qualifications would be needed by candidates. He said they just had to be able to speak a second language. The reporter said, “That means no Irish need apply.”

We have the worst figures for language training in Europe. The number of pupils in secondary school in Ireland who learn two languages is 8%, compared to 60% on average elsewhere in Europe. We have to do something about this. Even worse, however, is the figure for primary school pupils.

The percentage who learn one other language is 3%. The average figure elsewhere in Europe is 60%. In a number of countries, for example, Sweden and Luxembourg, 100% learn a second language. Even in Italy the figure is 99%. I mention this because it is the sort of issue we should challenge and debate in the House.

Let us look to the future, on the bright side and at having a can-do attitude. However, we will not be able to do this if we do not give younger people some chance to compete in the future.