Mr. Seán Whelan:

Yes, we did, but in the first instance we had and we still have control over our own economic affairs and the behaviour of our own banks and we must take responsibility for our own affairs. We should co-operate with those in Europe by all means and blame them when they get things wrong but by all means let us do what we can to control our own affairs. Wherever we have control we should exert control. We should be vigilant against these issues. Such a level of vigilance and control requires more parliamentary time and that is why I have broached the issue of the electoral system intruding on the time of Deputies and Senators which, I suggest, would be more properly spent addressing national rather than electoral issues, which I regard as an imposition on their time. I realise Members have to be close to the public but I am merely saying there must be a better way than the system we have been labouring under since 1922.