Our jails are full of people who have not paid their licence, carpenter or plumber, and if we did not introduce this law, the others to whom I refer would end up in jail. We want criminals and people who burgle and terrorise people at gunpoint in jail. I visited a house in Rathfarnham where people wielding a gun and three knives came in to rob the occupants. Those are the people we want in jail, and a minimum threshold in that regard.

I call for a debate on child care. Caring for children is important. Abuse of children is an important issue to be addressed. They are different, but they are all about children. Before the budget we should make sure that every Department, and future Departments, will ensure that child care is put at the top of the agenda. I read a tweet last night from Gerry Adams which said:

Time 4 sleep. Thoughts r with Jock Davidson's family. Oiche mhaith.

That was on the same day his own brother lost his appeal against a conviction for child abuse in the North. There was no oíche mhaith or tweet about why someone would do something like that to their daughter.

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order-----

Yet he is asking why the Government does not come out and criticise-----

Your time is up, Senator.

That has no relevance whatsoever to-----

Points of order take priority, Senator Keane. You are well over the limit.

Senator Keane is taking a political snipe at our party leader. It has absolutely nothing to do-----

That is not a point of order.

-----with the issue she raised.

I am asking-----

It is an absolute disgrace.

I am asking-----

Senator Keane, you should not mention people in the other House.

What about the people-----

Furthermore, you had two minutes and you have spoken for almost four.

I am asking for a debate on child care.

I am asking why people who put water charges high on the agenda put children and abuse of children very low on the agenda.

That is absolutely outrageous.

Maíria Cahill is out there suffering.

The Senator is well over the time limit.

I will not push the issue under the carpet any more.

No, Senator. You had two minutes. You took four.

Maíria Cahill is blue in the face-----

Senator, please.

I want a debate on child care to make sure we put money into child care and that we protect children.

You have made your point. I think when the Cathaoirleach is not here Members take advantage of my indulgence. I am very fair to people.

When Senators get two minutes they ask for four minutes and when they get four minutes they want five minutes. That is not begging my indulgence; it is taking advantage of my generosity in the Chair.

I call Senator Brennan. I called him earlier but he was absent.