Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate and to express a timely warning to the Government on the reality facing it on this issue and all supporting a "Yes" vote. Whether it is known to the Government parties and the Minister responsible, there is a latent anger among the electorate. It will not be a case on this occasion of vast numbers not expressing an opinion. There will be a substantial increase in the numbers coming out to vote. Behind that anger is an expression of mistrust in the Government and many of its members. It is unfortunate that it may manifest itself in a "No" vote.

I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, what has happened since the last opportunity to vote on this issue that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, has changed his mind. Sceptics would say he changed it because he is now a Minister. Others would say he changed his mind immediately after the result was declared on the last occasion. He said he voted "No" because he wanted to be on the winning side like Senator Lydon said. We all want to be on the winning side. If the electorate see a sincere and genuine effort being made and a request for the electorate to respond positively to Europe we will get a "Yes" vote, but the anger among the electorate is unquantifiable.

The Government in its first few weeks in office announced severe cutbacks in basic services and those affected will remember it. The most severe were the health cutbacks. I am a member of the Western Health Board where 169 front line support jobs in the health service are about to be lost and the Government does not care. No doubt there are similar job losses throughout the other health boards but they may not have been highlighted. These cutbacks affect people, who will respond accordingly.

In education, as I raised here this morning, a 70% increase in registration fees has been announced for young people for the duration of their stay within the system. It is an extreme burden for parents who strive to send one or more of their children to a third level college. At the same time the Government emphasises the need for a well educated workforce who are experts in various fields to assist with R&D. The increase in registration fees is not a positive response to our needs in the current climate.