Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I support the calls for a debate on education. The education system, particularly at primary and second level, urgently needs protection. As I have heard others such as Senator Ross state in this House previously, there has never been that much fat there. We are now approaching a budget where that is under threat again. We are told it is one of the biggest Departments and we must look seriously at how we will protect the education system.

The main reason I stand is to tell the Leader we heard an inspirational address this morning by former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, at a business breakfast in the city. He spoke with great hope about now being such a good time to invest in Ireland and it was really good to hear that message of hope. I say to Fianna Fáil, the Greens and the few Independents that while they are still in Government they have the privilege of doing something positive and implementing solutions. Here is the reality that I believe they must address. Yesterday we heard that adjustments of up to €15 billion are needed between now and 2014. This morning we learn in The Irish Time that citizens will have to pay €6 billion just to finance the bank bailout by 2014 and Mr. John Bruton stated that personal borrowing in this country is 200% of GDP. Those are tough facts but how can we reconcile the fact this crisis was not of ordinary citizens' making and expect them to fund the national debt when they are in all likelihood putting their own homes and families at risk? I have asked repeatedly where are the solutions to protect the family home, and so has Senator MacSharry. I need to see those solutions. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Finance to tell us how people will be protected until we get out of this mess.