Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I, too, welcome the gradual re-establishment of respect for the rule of international law both in the United States and Britain through the agency of the courts. I also welcome yesterday's meeting between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair. The choice is clear. It is between either working Northern Ireland as a political entity or reinforced joint stewardship and partnership between the British and Irish Governments.

If there was any doubt about the need for regular economic debates in this House, The Irish Times this morning, which contains diametrically opposite prescriptions by two respected bodies, would convince us of it. On the one hand the ESRI suggests that the Government should reduce spending on infrastructure and back-load it to prevent the economy overheating. On the other hand the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, which represents most, if not all, the American firms located here, urges front-loading of infrastructure and more emphasis on regional development. I lean more towards the view of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland than that of the ESRI.