I call on the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to intervene in the current difficulties that have arisen with the teachers' unions. I am not asking her to cave in and welcome the fact that she has amended the proposals of the previous Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. However, I ask her to meet with the teachers' unions as a matter of urgency to avert the threat of a strike. I agree with Senator Gerard P. Craughwell in that regard.

I also join the Senator in seeking a debate on banking. I am aware the banking inquiry is under way, but it is important that this House has an urgent debate on banking. A number of areas must be discussed, including the rate of interest mortgage holders must pay. At a time when the European Central Bank, ECB, rate is at an all-time low of almost 0%, the banks in this country are charging mortgage holders well in excess of 4%. That issue must be addressed. We must also examine how the banks are dealing with mortgage arrears, receiverships and the sale of properties which they have put into receivership. There are serious questions in this regard and I ask the Leader to arrange that urgent debate.

It is very serious if the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has made a threat to abolish a democratically elected council without good reason. It is also very serious if he chooses to hold a meeting with some Members of the Oireachtas, not all of them, to discuss this matter. I support the call this morning for the Minister to be invited to the House to clarify this situation before it gets out of control.