Dan Boyle (Green Party)

Senator Butler spoke about the potential that exists in the construction industry in light of the recent economic downturn. New construction levels have slowed down considerably. I strongly agree that the attention of the construction industry should turn to the retrofitting of houses to make them more energy efficient.

Senator Hannigan welcomed the publication of the heads of the civil partnership Bill. I am confident the Seanad and the other House will be prepared to proceed with the legislation as quickly as possible. It will be a significant and important Bill. I accept it will not address all issues fully. It is an important stepping stone.

Senator Hanafin spoke about the need for the Government to emphasise, in the context of the debate on the economy, the need to allocate existing resources in a proportionate manner. Everyone on the Government benches will be happy to do so, especially as the 2008 economy will be 99.6% the size of the 2007 economy. Special attention will have to be paid to those in our society who are less well off. To be fair to the Taoiseach, the three budgets he introduced when he was Minister for Finance were verified by the Combat Poverty Agency as the most socially equitable budgets of the past decade.