Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I am also concerned at Prime Minister Brown's proposals on electronic border controls from 2009 because we have a land border with Northern Ireland that poses many problems in this regard. A person from Dundalk who needs to go to the UK seeking a new job as a football manager, for example, may find it easier to travel from the North than from the South. He or she could simply drive to Belfast International Airport and fly to Britain without the use of a passport. This clearly poses a problem for the British Government as it is not its intention to allow such anomalies to continue. I wish to impress upon the Leader of the House the need for the Taoiseach to talk to his counterparts in the UK to create an arrangement that will allow the system to work for all of us.

I was interested to note today that one of our leading think tanks, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, predicts clouds on the horizon for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen. Forecasts show that insufficient tax revenues will be raised in the coming year to cover promises made in recent months on health, crime and education. It appears the Minister will have to make some stark choices. He can renege on some promises, raise taxes or go cap in hand to the bank seeking extra cash, but none of these options will be easy for him as he has told us for years how well his Department is run.

Last week, mistakes made on the issue of Shannon Airport by the Department of Transport came to light and this week the Department of Finance's forecasts have been proven wrong. Ministers seem to just sail blithely on. I am concerned that the Government does not engage in any accountability. Will the Leader request that the Minister address this House on his intentions regarding the economy?