John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

Perhaps the Senator would listen. The Senator spoke to the amendment. If he had spoken to the motion he might have had some chance of knowing what he was talking about. What is also interesting about the Fine Gael motion is that given all the recent policy kite-flying it chose a Progressive Democrat policy as the subject of its Private Members' motion. Imitation, no matter how pale, is the sincerest form of flattery. It is interesting the House is not considering a motion on sending bold boys into the Army, rewarding good boys with laptops or what to do with teachers who fail their five-year assessment. Perhaps they will put them into the Army or give them laptops to further their education.

On a more serious point in regard to the timing of change to stamp duty, Fine Gael should know the timeline of the budgetary process follows a strict convention and tradition and it is a sad that Fine Gael seeks to break this. I remind Fine Gael that the budget is on Wednesday next, 6 December. No responsible Government would or should announce the contents of a budget in advance.