Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Donohoe, O'Toole, Bacik, Boyle, Healy Eames, Coghlan, Corrigan and MacSharry expressed serious concerns and outlined various proposals to the House. I also wish the four party leaders who are meeting in the national interest well. While the meeting is unprecedented, as the Taoiseach stated, it is not politics as usual. We certainly face a serious challenge, but, like the Deputy Leader, Senator Boyle, I am confident that if everyone does the right thing, Ireland can come out of the recession much quicker than people seem to think. Although we find ourselves in a very serious position, reports last night on Sky Television and the BBC on how the United Kingdom Government must address and tackle the difficulties in which it finds itself confirm this is a worldwide problem. Ultimately, we are all trying to do the right thing for our economies.

Senators Healy Eames and MacSharry raised the issue of family home protection. As they stated, Members wish to ensure wives and husbands are protected in respect of the family home.