I agree very much with the sentiments expressed by previous speakers. A debate on sentencing is most important. When certain sentences are handed down, we can see that the Judiciary does not have the appropriate guidance or sufficient options to arrive at the outcomes that are clearly required in certain situations. We can see evidence of that this week.

I support that call.

I join my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, in asking for a debate on the issue of the graduate posts which the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, has suggested. It is ridiculous in the extreme and downright unfair if this proposal goes ahead. Senator Hayden has rightly called for a debate on equality. The Minister is proposing to pay certain people 80% of the wage for 100% of the work. This is fundamentally wrong. Lincoln called it slavery; Nelson Mandela called it apartheid. Is the Government going to do the same to the graduates of this country?

Fianna Fáil did it. That is why we are where we are.

Senator MacSharry to continue, without interruption.

The Sunday Business Post has reported that the troika will say, "Sorry, all future employees need to be paid 80% of the salary". If the State cannot afford to pay its employees, if it cannot afford to pay the people in these Houses, then so be it. The level of public sector pay across the board needs to be reduced, to come down. However, do not say to our brightest and most intelligent and youngest who will build the future of this country that they will do more for less while we enjoy the spoils. That is slavery in any other language.