Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Alex White and Paschal Donohoe called for a debate on the economy. We have to be consistent. I should not like this House to be a bad news Chamber. The media home in on one Chamber. I should like the Seanad to present the facts, reflecting how positive they are. These are the figures from the Central Statistics Office. They are not Senator Alex White's or Senator Donie Cassidy's figures. The CSO indicated economic growth of 4.5% for the first half of this year. These are facts, not just one-liners to be shown on "Oireachtas Report" later this evening. These figures were released last Friday.

The quarterly national accounts show that gross domestic product, GDP, in the first half of 2007 was €90.7 million, an increase of €5.7 million or 6.7% on the same period last year. That does not reflect an economy that is heading for difficulty. When it comes to employing people, I have as much experience as any other Member of this House, with the exception of one Senator. Let us not talk down here. The House comprises in the main all new young Members. There are 25——