Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

A this is my second time today to be Paddy last in a fairly lengthy debate, I need to have a chat with my Whip. In the meantime, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, who is always very generous with his time in this House. I had hoped to have a chance to welcome my neighbour and new Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, but unfortunately he had to leave the House. One advantage of him addressing the House before I spoke was that I had an opportunity to listen very closely to his presentation. If the truth were told, I think some of my colleagues on the Opposition benches were also fairly impressed. They were very quiet for most of it.

I will deal with two or three issues at this late stage in the debate. I was surprised to hear Senator Ross referring to what the Minister had to say about the new economic reality which obtains now. I always listen very closely to Senator Ross on matters to do with the economy and his articles on the economy in The Sunday Independent are required reading in my house. He of all people must know and take cognisance of the fact that we are in a new reality and that any Minister — no matter what the Department — who cannot take this on board, change direction and be as flexible as possible is a very poor Minister.