Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

Since I have come into the House today the Opposition Deputies have been speaking about practical matters, such as schools and roads, of which I heartily approve. However, I was listening to them both earlier this morning and yesterday, and I never heard such a crowd of whingers in all my life as appeared on the Fine Gael benches. It was a big moan. I do not mean Deputy McGinley, but his cohorts. They do not seem to want a national agreement because they did their very best on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to ensure that if they kicked up sufficient fuss, the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, would give in and give them the document ahead of the people with whom he was in consultation. That would lead to some outcome, I can tell them.

The partnership process is one for which there must be respect. Equally, of course there is respect for the people of the House. I have lived through social partnership since 1987 and it works. It is one of main reasons why, economically, this country did well. I was so disappointed with the whingeing this morning. I listened to the Fine Gael spokesman on finance but it was nothing but a big whinge. I cannot believe he was as bad as he was.

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