Joe O'Toole (Independent)

As a member of the committee referred to by Senator Fitzgerald, I am a solid supporter of its Chairman, Deputy Cregan and will defend his right to the death to say what he has to say. However, the letter does not represent the views of the committee and this should be corrected. The committee should not be drawn into the personal views he is entitled to hold and the criticisms he is entitled to lay and deal with like any other Member of the House. I certainly feel uncomfortable about this. I tend to keep away from this discussion in the House. It is time for a broader and more general debate on tribunals. We debated the matter previously when the new terms of reference for the tribunal were established. It should be examined again to see how it is working.

I do not know if Senators have heard but Cement Roadstone Holdings pre-tax profits for this year are down to a mere €2 billion. This worry for me has added to my sleeplessness over the past few nights. For some time now, I have been extraordinarily concerned for the Construction Industry Federation, CIF. We should give some thought for and show some solidarity with that hard-pressed group of people, the builders of Ireland.