Before I call the next speaker I welcome Scoil Mhuire na n-Áird from Shillelagh in Wicklow. The students are guests of Deputy Brennan. I was talking to the Deputy earlier and, as is the tradition in the House, there is no homework for the rest of the week. The students should make sure their teachers enforce that law because if it is said here it must be law.

Anois, an Seanadóir Fitzpatrick.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Fáilte to everyone in the Gallery.

Today the Tánaiste brought to Cabinet a paper for discussion on the economic forecast for our country. I would like the Acting Leader to arrange a debate in the House on the economic forecast with a particular focus on the cost-of-living pressures being experienced by households and businesses. We are very fortunate to live in a country with a strong, stable economy. We have full employment and growth continues to be forecast. However, my understanding is the report from the Department of Finance outlined three possible scenarios and it is important we debate those in the House. In particular, households are feeling the pinch. I was nominated by RGDATA, which represents indigenous, independent shop owners and convenience stores. Many of them have been hit very badly over the last number of years by continued increases in the cost of doing business. RGDATA has engaged very constructively on behalf of its members with the Department of enterprise and the Minister and we are looking forward to the cost of doing business report, which I urge the Minister to publish.

This House has an important role to play in taking the forecast and debating it and debating the scenarios. As a country we have come through Covid, Brexit and the war in Ukraine and now we have the very significant threats and pressures we are experiencing due to global conflict and the energy supply crisis. I would appreciate it if the Acting Leader could use his offices to organise an early debate on the economic forecast for the country.