Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator Donohoe should know that I was smiling at someone in the Visitors Gallery. I apologise if he got the wrong impression. Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Alex White, Walsh, Coffey, MacSharry, Kelly, Bacik, Regan, Quinn, Coghlan, McFadden, Ó Domhnaill and Donohoe all called for a debate on the economy. I have given my word to the House that this is going to take place. Now that the ESRI report is out today, we shall give the Minister for Finance the opportunity to come to the Seanad for a lengthy debate. I have no difficulty in holding a half-day debate in the House on the economy. It is something to which each one of us wants to make a contribution. I do not want to get involved in the pros and cons of what has been said. The people have acknowledged and recognised the good job that was done for the past ten years in endorsing the Government in three general elections.