We will not oppose the Order of Business but I have a number of points to make. Will the Leader on behalf of the House raise immediately with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, our concern about the investigation into the death of Mr. Pat Finucane in Northern Ireland? This morning there are additional revelations and claims by a journalist, Mr. Ed Moloney, that he informed the Irish Government of these threats at the time and it in turn allegedly informed the British Government. That raises very serious questions and as a nation we should use all our power and connections, through consular movements in the world, to impress upon the British Government the need for a public inquiry in this regard. That is essential.

I appreciate that the Houses will be very busy in the run-up to the Christmas period but given developments during the night and throughout today in Brussels on the issue of a banking union, the matter should be debated in this House. In particular, we should know what implications this will have for our so-called special status. One wonders when and if there will be a deal on the promissory note or our banking debt as a whole. A Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, at the weekend claimed on television that the promissory note will not be paid. That would be welcome but it is important for us to debate the issues as the Irish people require some certainty about the future in that regard.

It is also important to note, in a week when we are to debate personal insolvency legislation in the House, there is still no measure in place to look after the people in mortgage arrears or give them some options or confidence in a process that an independent authority can oversee. Instead, the banks have absolute control, which is a major concern of ours about that legislation.

I know that next week we will debate the Social Welfare Bill, for which I am thankful the Leader will make a substantial amount of time available. We appreciate it as that has not happened in the other House. The Labour Party chairman last evening tweeted that the die is cast; it may not be cast fully in the Dáil and it certainly has not been cast in this House. I appeal to all Members, particularly our Labour Party colleagues, to reflect over the weekend and take the opportunity to take the stand which the party's manifesto promised in advance of the last election, specifically regarding child benefit. There is also a very cynical cut to the respite grant.

As we prepare for those votes next week, we can consider how on 1 January the PRSI bill for somebody on €25,000 will increase by nearly 40% while the PRSI bill for somebody on €200,000 will go up by a mere 4%. How is that fair? It is simply not fair and I ask Members to reflect on it over the weekend in order that in this House at least, in contrast to the comments of the Labour Party chairman, Deputy Keaveney, the die will not be cast. I hope Labour Party colleagues, in particular, will seize the opportunity afforded to them on behalf of the people next week.

Listening to Senator MacSharry, one might think the Labour Party was in a single party Government. It is interesting that the Senator has constantly singled us out. I am not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed.

What is the balance of power?

I agree with the Senator on the revelations this morning that a journalist, Mr. Ed Moloney, provided. Any of us who heard the interview on "Morning Ireland" would have listened with real horror as he outlined very clearly the extent of knowledge that was not referred to in the de Silva report, which suggested that knowledge had come much later to the British authorities. There are very serious concerns which confirm the comments of the Tánaiste in the Dáil last night that the Government will continue to press for a public inquiry. As I noted in response to Senator Ó Murchú yesterday on the Order of Business, that remains the position of the Government and that position is supported on a cross-party basis. It is also being pushed by the family of Pat Finucane and the need has been confirmed.

With regard to a banking debate, yesterday other colleagues sought such a debate in the new year. It would be worth having, particularly in the context of today's summit in Brussels. In January we might consider the issue, and there were a number of concerns raised yesterday. In particular, the former Director of Corporate Enforcement, Mr. Paul Appleby, made comments about the lack of prosecution of bankers in Ireland and the need to consider white collar crime issues. The matter should be examined.

We will discuss the Social Welfare Bill over three days next week and the Leader has given a good deal of time to it, as it requires. Many of us are very concerned about the cut in the respite care grant and the impact that will have on significant numbers of carers. What is required and has been sought by the Carers Association is an interdepartmental review of the provision of respite care. Having spoken to carers I know, for many the concern is not so much the grant but rather the provision of services in the area by the HSE. The grant comes from the Department of Social Protection but the service provision by the HSE can be very patchy across different areas, which can be a bigger problem in practice for many carers seeking to have the much-needed respite they deserve. In the new year we should consider a detailed survey of the reality of respite care provision across the country, examining where gaps are and how they can be addressed.