First, we read today that more than 200 legal cases have been taken against parents due to school absenteeism issues and that more than 700 notices have been sent to parents across the country in the past year on the same issue. These are parents of children aged between six and 16, which is the legal requirement that children are to be in school who have missed 20 days or more. As the Leader will know, we passed all Stages of a Bill in this House that would bring four and five year old children under the auspices of the Education (Welfare) Act. This would mean that absenteeism could be addressed at an earlier stage in a child's school life. I ask the Leader if the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs could be asked to address the Seanad on the progress of that Bill through the other House of the Oireachtas because school absenteeism is an issue that can be best addressed at the earliest stage of a child's school life. If it can be addressed when the child is four or, more likely, five years of age in the school system, their patterns of school attendance will be greatly increased. If poor attendance has been embedded in the child's school experience until the age of six, before their legal requirement to be in school, that pattern of poor attendance will continue. I ask that the Minister would make herself available to come into the House to discuss the passage of this Bill, which she and the Government support. It is important that we see that legislation passed.

Second, I want to put on the record of the House how disappointed I am with rhetoric coming from various by-election campaign candidates. Anybody who understands inequality understands that this affects children profoundly. If one is the child of a Traveller, a Nigerian, an Albanian or an asylum seeker-----

We are not responsible-----

That is not the point. Let him talk.

I want to make a small point. We are not responsible for what the Minister might say in the other House. That is a matter for the other House to deal with. We cannot deal with it.

I am sorry. I am putting on the record of this House how important it is for all of us to understand the seriousness of inequality and the way rhetoric hurts children in particular who are from vulnerable communities. For the child of an asylum seeker, an immigrant, somebody in drug addiction or a Traveller, this sort of rhetoric will seep into their bones and possibly never leave them. I would remind all parties in this House, and all their candidates in this by-election, that they may want to win a by-election but the damage they are causing will far outweigh the importance of the election in which they are running.

I did not realise that it was children aged six to 16 on which records were kept in terms of school attendance. That Bill makes absolute sense and the sooner it is introduced, the better.

I attended a briefing about Dublin in the audiovisual room this morning. I attended it because it was organised by Marian O'Donnell, who used to work for Senator Colm Burke and myself until about a year ago. It was very interesting to see the methodology behind the study and the challenges this city faces in the future. A copy of the presentation will be circulated to Members, which makes very interesting reading. We can celebrate what has been achieved in Dublin but there is much that needs to be done to bring us up to what I would describe as an acceptable international standard, particularly for the 1,000 non-Irish people surveyed who are living in Dublin. I refer to people from abroad who have decided to make Dublin their home. It is very interesting to see what those 1,000 people had to say about their experiences in Dublin. The study will make for interesting reading when it comes out.

I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on direct provision.

Next week.

That is great. The Minister might be in a position then to update us on what is happening in Achill. Accommodation is being paid for in Achill but there are no residents there as yet. That case needs urgent attention. I have no doubt that the Minister is dealing with it. I welcome that he will have the opportunity next week to update the House on it.