David Norris (Independent)

I welcome the Minister. I accept he is an extremely able Minister for Finance and that he has given considerable service. However, I am not voting with the Government on this occasion and I will explain why. I met the Minister in the corridors earlier and I explained to him that it is a waste of Seanad time to have these slavering Government motions reciting their own wonderful deeds. Self praise is no praise. There is a ritual dance and then the Opposition, of which I am not a member, as I am an Independent Senator, says everything is in a chaotic, ghastly state. Neither statement is completely realistic and they do not advance anything.