Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The way things are going, it appears as if the Ceann Comhairle's seat is the only safe one in the House. I wish him well in the new Dáil.

For over a decade, the Government, in various shades, spent the public's money in a wanton fashion. It never consulted or sought the advice of this side of the House. It never took on board the very many positive measures put forward by this side of the House. Now in the Government's hour of need, it seeks our help for the good of the State. This is a Pauline conversion on its deathbed.

Fine Gael believes the fiscal adjustment should be achieved through expenditure savings as opposed to tax increases. There is great scope for savings in the public service. People talk about fixing the political system. While there are steps to be taken in respect of the political system, its main fault is the practitioners therein. The system has worked in the past and can work in the future. We could spend another decade navel-gazing and return with the same system. The biggest weakness of this House is the failure to recognise the implications of measures we take on business and the business environment.

Whatever Government is formed in the next few weeks will have to introduce a new finance Bill with measures to facilitate growth and the creation of jobs. To date, there have been cutbacks. We must address bureaucracy in the form of the Health and Safety Authority, NERA and all the bodies set up during the Celtic tiger years.

There are measures we can take outside our economic remit that will have implications. Over the years during which I have been a Member, I have been harping on the issue of early intervention in education. Our education system is going down the Swanee because of the failure in respect of numeracy and literacy in the primary curriculum. A report published in recent weeks identifies this problem. People ask me how this has happened and state we need another report to establish the facts. It happened because we have a curriculum that does not facilitate development.

It is essential that the new Government introduce a finance Bill that will create hope, a stimulus and jobs. The difficulty in Britain in recent days will have an impact on our exports. Interest rates will probably increase in the coming year or so, thus affecting mortgage holders. There are many negatives on the horizon and this is why we need to instil confidence. Let us renegotiate and conclude the interest rate deal with the IMF as soon as we can in order to run our own affairs.

I pay tribute to all those who are retiring. I am sorry I was not present for the speech of Deputy Edward O'Keeffe, who is a very outspoken man. I wish him, his colleagues, my colleagues on this side of the House and others well in the weeks ahead.

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