Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Independent)

I will be brief as I am under pressure of time. I have listened carefully to many of the previous speakers. I am delighted that suggestions are being made from all sides of the House as that is the purpose of this debate. My suggestion is worthwhile and one that has come to me from some of my constituents. I suggest a national voluntary contribution fund be set up. The trustees could be the Minister for Finance and the Opposition spokespersons on finance. I suggest that people be asked to donate 1% of their weekly income to the fund. The people who made the suggestion to me are on social welfare payments and they want to help our country, as do many people. If one million people gave €1 each, we would have €1 million. The cynics will say it is nothing and they will come up with a thousand reasons it should not happen but €1 million is better than nothing. If the fund were to rise to €5 million or €10 million, this might mean the saving of a school or it might be a protection for our front line health services or for some social welfare payments. I think it is a good idea and I ask the House to give it serious consideration.

My second suggestion is that the Whips of all parties examine legislation between now and 7 December so that only emergency legislation be put on the Order Paper. We should attend here on a Monday or a Friday or start work on a Tuesday at 10 a.m. in order to devote extra time to this debate. It is ludicrous that most of the 166 Deputies in this Chamber are not getting a chance to speak. Those of us who are getting a chance to speak are getting between two and ten minutes.

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