Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I have to say where I am from.

My seven year old granddaughter, Heather, asked me this morning very seriously: "What is NAMA about?" I told her to ask her mother. Many views have been expressed on all sides of this House during this debate about what NAMA is, what it means and what will be its consequences. Deputy Cyprian Brady and others have made the valid point that the biggest risk of all would be for the Government to do nothing and for the economy to stagnate even further.

I notice tonight that the news bulletins are not talking about NAMA because the McCarthy report has suddenly become the news item of the day. I am sure that in the context of this discussion it is all right for me to refer to this because people are talking about McCarthy and the cuts it recommends. It is relevant to this debate and everyone, including myself, has a view about what the Government should do.

The McCarthy report was given to the Government and we all have an opportunity to make our views on it known. The Government is considering all its recommendations. At every political level, the McCarthy report should be treated with respect. I have very strong views about what should be touched and what should not. I am glad the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Mary Hanafin, is in the House. I wish her well. She knows that Fianna Fáil must continue in government to do what it has always done, that is to look after the vulnerable, the elderly and the carers. Not every Government can say it does that. The Minister is entitled to all our support, as she rises to that challenge and does her best in that regard. She will know that people, throughout the country and certainly in Tallaght, are concerned about the situation.

I am old enough to remember other recessions and what they were like. Like others I had to emigrate, as did my father and my grandfathers. I am glad I survived and came back although not everyone in my constituency is happy that I did so. I have often said - and I was not looking at George Lee's picture when I did so - that I emigrated simply because I could not find a job. I was not aware of the difficult financial situation the Government faced at that time. Nowadays, through television and other media, we get information almost before the Government releases it. Maybe that is not a bad thing. Nevertheless, it adds to people's frustration and concerns. It certainly adds to their anger.

I have been out and about in Tallaght talking to people and convincing them, I hope, that the Lisbon treaty is important. People are sharing with me the same concerns that are being expressed in Galway, Wexford, Dún Laoghaire, Drumcondra and all over the country. The issues are the same.

With all the talk about pain and adjustments, it is important to remember the word "recovery". In my constituency, for example, jobless figures have risen by 87% in the past year. That is a serious challenge for the third largest population centre in the country. The anger and frustration which has been expressed to colleagues has also been expressed to me. People are worried about their mortgages. People have different views about what NAMA will achieve. The ordinary people are saying they want reassurance from Government that if they get into trouble with their mortgage there will be a light at the end of the tunnel and some kind of help. The standard profile of a social welfare recipient has changed in this recession. There are people in my community and every other community having to go to their local social welfare office or community welfare officer who never had to do so before. It is essential that Government show signs of recovery, as far as that issue is concerned, and assures our citizens, whatever their political persuasion, that there is a way forward, that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that every effort will be made to continue to invest and create jobs and confidence. People have a list of things which they want done but the words "jobs" and" recovery" are high on that list.

I will listen very carefully to what colleagues are saying. I will not engage in politics and upset colleagues across the floor, particularly those who are normally amenable to my points of view. However, some of the remarks made are not in the national interest. I do not expect everyone to support the Government but surely views can be expressed reasonably. At a time of recession when there is a need for national recovery, we should all come together in some way and use the good ideas which are coming forward. Some of the speeches have been unnecessarily over the top politically in a time of national crisis. I hope that good ideas, whether from Fianna Fáil backbenchers or Opposition speakers, will be incorporated in the legislation. Colleagues have made the point that the debate on Committee Stage will be very important. The Minister for Finance understands that this is a time of national challenge and that good ideas are coming from both sides of the House. There are also some crazy ideas but let us concentrate on the good.

People are deeply concerned about NAMA. The Taoiseach has said the next 100 days will be critical for the future of the country. We all hear about the importance of the Lisbon treaty, NAMA, the budget and the negotiation of the Government programme. The public are confusing those issues. Maybe we need to calmly take one issue at a time. There is still a need to get a positive message across about the National Asset Management Agency Bill. There is still a job to be done in that regard. There is considerable confusion and this leads to anger. It is important that this debate send out a positive message that something is being done, that someone is in charge and that there is a way forward.

I do not need to defend our partners in the Government but I notice they are getting much criticism, some of it snide, from the Opposition benches. I wonder what that achieves. The Government is trying to do a job and we all have a responsibility to represent the concerns being expressed to us. People are saying the same things to me as to Deputies Pat Rabbitte, Brian Hayes or Conor Lenihan.

I had to go to Tallaght last night and was not present when my colleague and good friend, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, raised the issue of the jobs initiative programme. We both attended a recent meeting on this issue in Tallaght. People are very concerned about the threat to the jobs initiative programme. I see no point in taking people off the programme, putting them on the dole with nothing to do and depriving communities of good works. I support what Deputy Rabbitte said in that regard.

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