Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

It is sad that I am obliged to repeat the comments I made last week, namely, that we are fiddling while Rome burns. The issues of Dáil and administrative reform are crucially important. However, they are not quite as important as the economic position in which we find ourselves or the high level of unemployment that obtains. Every aspect of business with which the Dáil deals at present should be devoted to matters relating to the economy. I urge the Government as well as the Opposition to ensure that this will be the case. Any motions that are put forward must be relevant to the current crisis. The motion before the House is not particularly relevant to that crisis.

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