Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join with other Senators in asking the Leader for an ongoing debate on the economy. As we have seen from recent reports, these are the most challenging times we have experienced for almost the last 30 years. I could not agree more with the point made by other speakers with regard to maintaining momentum on the national development plan. The Taoiseach fully agrees with this. His statement that we must prioritise the work of the national development plan to focus on those issues that will increase our competitiveness was most prudent. At no point did he say we would in any way wind down our commitments under the plan, only that we would be more strategic in prioritising those projects that would help enhance and maintain our competitiveness into the future.

I support my colleague Senator O'Toole in calling on all sections of society to play their parts in these challenging times. I also refer to a previous proposal I made in the House to set up a committee to monitor social partnership. I hope that workers and employers alike will see the realities that face us and play their parts.