I dtosach, ba mhaith liom tacú leis an mholadh atá déanta ag an Seanadóir Bacik go mbeadh díospóireacht againn maidir le foréigean baile. Sílim gur ábhar an-tábhachtach é sin.

In light of the histrionics witnessed in the Chamber in recent days, I suggest to the Leader and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges that we instigate the Seanad Oscars.

Or the Raspberries.

Some performances in the Houses were worthy of any good pantomime.

The Senator might be a candidate.

On the Order of Business, please.

Members had the same level of sincerity as some pantomime dames. There might have been too much ham for the stage at the Abbey Theatre, though.

The G8 summit is coming to Ireland. It will be a large event, a great deal of money will be spent on it and many of the world's leaders will stay in swanky and wonderful hotels. That is how these events work. However, Oxfam Ireland has asked many of us to raise a number of issues on the agenda, for example, preventing companies from dodging taxes in poor countries so that millions might be freed from hunger; stopping poor farmers from being forced from their lands to grow fuel crops rather than food crops; providing aid to stop people dying from hunger; helping the poorest to have enough food on which to live; and ensuring governments and companies are honest about their role in the food system.

A question for the Leader, please.

We should use our Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Taoiseach's role at the G8 summit to raise these issues. The Seanad should also debate the serious issue of poverty. It is not just found in developing countries but also at home, where 22% of children cannot concentrate in school because they are hungry. A report has shown that a growing number of primary school pupils go to school tired and hungry. Poverty is an important issue. We have debated it but we should keep it on the agenda, particularly as it relates to the developing world.