Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

I wish to ask about legislation, but I will preface my remarks by saying we should pay tribute to those vulnerable workers who brought the scandal of Rostrevor and what was happening to our elderly to the public's attention. Let us reflect on the question of why care of the elderly should be a profit-making enterprise in the first instance.

Regarding promised legislation, as the Minister knows, tragically unemployment rose to its highest level in the history of the State last week. Where is the legislation for phase 1 of the promised strategic investment bank, particularly given the collapse of private investment? As we have the pleasure of being presented the Order of Business by the Minister, will he take this opportunity to apologise for his insensitive insult to a group of taxpayers, namely, parents who must send their children to dilapidated schools, when he blamed them last week for the situation?

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