Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

His colleagues demanded that we stay quiet. Efforts are being made to hush Members on this side of the House rather than allow us to address the issues. Unfortunately, that is what obtained for far too long in respect of banking institutions and that is why we are in this predicament. Members on this side of the House are willing to engage constructively with the Government in the national interest. The talk about the green jersey does not impress me, however, because it brings to mind the analogy of the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance togging out for Ireland in the coming rugby match against England. Their efforts on the field in Croke Park would probably match their futile attempts to run the economy.

I hope the Minister accepts this amendment because doing so would represent a gesture not only to public service workers but also to the trade union leadership that the Government is beginning to open the door to negotiations and agreement in order to quell the industrial unrest which will undoubtedly cause havoc otherwise.

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