Shane Ross (Independent)

I am supporting Senator O'Toole in a very limited way. We must remind ourselves that when Germany and France breached the Stability and Growth Pact, nobody seemed to worry too much about it, but when we breached it people got very hot under the collar. Therefore, this is a legitimate issue for debate and one in respect of which the Taoiseach should intervene.

The second issue I wish to raise, which is very appropriate for debate and which was raised by several Senators, is the insurance industry, particularly insurance brokers. The Competition Authority concentrated on it yesterday. We should ask what we are doing by tolerating the activities of small numbers of people who are ripping off large numbers of people. I ask the Leader and others — I am slightly in two minds about this myself — that if we insist on bringing in many politicians and MEPs to address us, which I believe has limited value, whether it would be more useful to ask people with the expertise of John Fingleton in the Competition Authority and others to come to the House so we could ask questions on this issue and on why the Competition Authority reached its findings.