Dan Boyle (Green Party)

On the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Fitzgerald to debate the economy, on which Senators Bacik, Doherty, Coffey, Buttimer and Mullen have also commented, we are having a debate on the economy tomorrow in the form of statements and it is not in order to offset the Order of Business to have a special debate today as well.

That said, many of us are waiting with anticipation for the announcement at 3.30 p.m. of the new spending allocations. Tomorrow's statements will probably give the House a better opportunity of debating the matter. My understanding is that the choices being made by the Government will put emphasis on protecting the least vulnerable in society, to whom Senator Mullen referred, give consideration to keeping up spending on infrastructure and ensure that the spending allocations, particularly on capital spending, are readjusted according to new time lines for projects rather than imposing direct cuts in current services.