I would like to extend a welcome to those from Galway in the Visitors' Gallery, who are campaigners on behalf of people with disabilities. They are welcome to Leinster House and it is good to see them here.

I concur with Senators who have spoken about the "Prime Time" programme. It is a great example of public service broadcasting by RTE. We should commend it for raising issues of such serious concern. I am a former chair of Galway city and county child care committee and director of a community child care facility in Connemara. I was appalled by the programme, which highlighted breaches of regulations. Some 75% of crèches have inadequate staff numbers and records. There was an over-emphasis on business interests, and the current regulations and HSE inspection regimes are totally inadequate. These problems did not start today or yesterday; they are historic. There has always been light-touch regulation from the HSE in this area because such sectors are grossly understaffed. I remind Senators that the same happened under the previous regime as well as this one. When cutbacks to health services are introduced, this is the kind of result one gets. It is about time we got real about this issue. It is time the Minister came to the House. I wholeheartedly support Senator van Turnhout's call for an immediate debate on this issue. It is a hugely important and distressing issue for parents. I also recognise the many health care and child care workers who do a fantastic job every day and earn very little money. They mainly do such jobs because they love them, and they have to be praised. This matter must be taken very seriously. What we saw last night was very close to abuse and we need a wholehearted and serious debate on the issue immediately.

To begin on a positive note, I, too, welcome the final tranche of funding for the very important bridge in Northern Ireland. I commend Senator Terry Brennan for his 35 years of campaigning to see that project through to fruition. It proves that, although it might take a long time, if one sticks with it, anything is achievable.

On a much more sombre note, I was truly appalled by last night's "Prime Time" programme. I commend RTE for exposing the issue because, unfortunately, the apparatus of the State did not do so. Senator Jillian van Turnhout's proposal should be given favourable consideration and I look forward to the Cathaoirleach's ruling in that regard. I feel sorry for the thousands of mothers and fathers going to work this morning with a heavy heart, wondering whether one of them should give up his or her job in order to stay at home and mind their children. These parents are working to provide a stable financial future for their family and are relying on the State to ensure their children are safe while they are in the crèche. It is appalling should even one child's safety be compromised, never mind numerous children in numerous facilities, as we saw last night. It was not an isolated or once-off incident. Unfortunately, this is happening in crèches at various locations in counties Dublin and Wicklow and elsewhere. The "Prime Time" team secretly filmed what was going on in these facilities and went through the inspectors' reports filed on many more crèches which were found not to be up to standard. I have sympathy, too, for the many child care workers and crèches that are doing their jobs properly. However, we are facing an emergency. The children being cared for in the identified facilities must be protected and the State must intervene immediately to ensure that is done.