Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

At the risk of embarrassing anybody, I would like to second Senator Fitzgerald's amendment to the Order of Business.

Yesterday, the Leader got rather nasty with me in regard to my comments in respect of the budgetary position. However, I accept the cut and thrust of politics and the Leader's position. We now have a budget deficit despite the Government having had a surplus this time last year of €260 million. The former Minister for Finance and current Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, told us we could not be trusted with the economy. How dare he and how dare he insult the people of Ireland. Where did that surplus go?