Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Donohoe, O'Toole, Doherty, Walsh, Regan and Coffey all called for a debate on the economy. I have already said that we will have a lengthy debate on this issue before the summer recess. The OECD report will be discussed in the House next Wednesday at 3 p.m. There is no difficulty in giving as much time as is required to discuss this issue before the summer recess and to let the Government hear the views of the Senators. Some very experienced Senators played a major role in forming the national understanding 21 years ago. The challenge over the summer will be getting a new agreement, and the two most important words are stability and certainty. That is where we need to go over the next three to five years. I wish everyone well in their task of getting Ireland out of this global downturn.

There is much frustration in the House as Senators from all sides want to see something that will give us hope for the future. The Government is awaiting the figures for the first six months which will be published later this week. They cannot be good, but we have been here before and have presided over a great change in our country. We have seen substantial spending on roads, education and health and we know that we cannot continue if the money is not coming in.

I will not score points because I am too long in the House to know that those who made a contribution——