Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to comment on the Bill. I listened to a number of Fianna Fáil backbenchers, one of whom asked why anyone would want to do the Minister's job. He sympathised with her. There is one way to get out of both of their jobs, though, and that is to let the people speak. The public would soon tell those on the Government side whether they should be doing those jobs. The Bill is a far cry from the promises of two years ago. While we were canvassing, the public was being told that the only people who could maintain the economy and do things right were those in Fianna Fáil and that no one else had the knowledge or ability.

There are two vacant seats behind me, one of which belongs to the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Healy-Rae. Neither he nor Deputy Lowry were present for the last vote. I hope that they will return for the vote at 3.30 p.m., as it is important to know where they stand. They were willing to support the Government after receiving written commitments from the then Taoiseach concerning the goodies that they would get. Now that the harsh reality of a broken economy is hitting them, they are far away from where they should be.

It is easy for the Government to claim that the situation is outside its control. Where the banks are concerned, though, it has sympathy and has been able to find €7 billion to let them off the hook. Ordinary people find it difficult to understand what an amount of €7 billion looks like. Given the fact that those running the banks were getting between €3 million and €6 million per year in pay and bonuses and that the regulators and Ministers were working with them hand in glove, one must question who is in charge of the country and what has occurred.

That the Tánaiste has discussed the need for competitiveness is interesting. Had the issue been examined during the past 12 years, we would not have our current problems, including a social welfare bill of €21.5 billion. If we do not turn our minds away from taxation towards returning people to employment, we are going nowhere. While I welcome the minor changes in the back to work and educational provisions, there is no new thinking that can bring about real change and opportunity.

The Government consistently says that Fine Gael and the other Opposition parties have nothing to offer. Fine Gael tabled a detailed and realistic proposal on how 100,000 people could be returned to work during the next four years. To say that we are not trying to develop initiatives is less than honest. That the Government should accept this fact is important. It is vital that our proposals be utilised by the Government, which we would gladly watch occurring.

The Tánaiste and others should apologise, as they have only just realised that competitiveness is importance. Those of us who live in the Border region have known this for a long time. We have seen opportunities north of the Border and elsewhere. Three years ago, I highlighted in the House the problems facing Wellman International Limited. At its factory on the Cavan-Meath border, it is paying twice as much for electricity as it does at its factory in France. This may sound simple, but it is a difference of €2 million per year in running costs. This situation must be evaluated in terms of jobs.

It is time that we examine how to create jobs and minimise numbers on social welfare. If we do so, we will be able to pay the Christmas bonus and maintain social welfare payments for those who need them. However, there is no point in tinkering with the edges and refusing to deal with the real problem, namely, the regulator. Recently, he stated that he would reduce the prices of gas and electricity. He reduced the price of gas by 10% whereas the actual world market price has decreased by 30%. Such a reduction would mean a great deal to the creation of jobs. 2 o'clock

Since the Bill comprises many different issues, it is more like a Finance Bill. It addresses the early child care supplement matter. The early child care supplement was brought in just over two years ago to much fanfare as to how it would help people to pay for child care or allow mothers to stay at home - all this sort of jazz - as it was so vital and important.

However, as far as the Government was concerned and as the former Taoiseach noted, all that mattered was to stay in office. The Government paid out the supplement under false pretences and with no intention of continuing the scheme, with the sole purpose of having the cheques in people's hands on the day before the election in order that it would be elected.

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