Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I gave my word to the House that we would have this debate before the summer recess. This is particularly needed now, as Senator John Paul Phelan correctly pointed out, since we have had changes in the Cabinet and a new Taoiseach. As Senator MacSharry reminded me, we had a full and lengthy debate on the economy in this session. However, the challenges facing our country due to the global downturn mean the economic situation is changing by the month. I certainly do not want the House to go into the summer recess without getting an update from Government on the present economic climate and the difficulties and challenges that will be faced in the six months before the next budget.

Senators de Búrca, Hannigan, Coghlan, Glynn, Buttimer and John Paul Phelan called for a debate on the review of constituency boundaries for local elections. There have been many changes in this area, and Senators from every county were yesterday contacted by anxious local authority members who were trying to find out what their fates and their political futures would be. I previously represented a three-seat constituency in the north of Westmeath, which has now become a four-seat constituency. It is certainly a change for us, but when it was previously a four-seat constituency we won three seats out of four, as Senator McFadden will recall. It was no accident, because we did it back-to-back, which was a marvellous achievement.