Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I second the amendment. I would like a commitment from the Leader that there will be questions and answers tomorrow. I agree with the points raised by Senator Fitzgerald. During a discussion two weeks ago on related matters, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance took questions from Members and it is difficult to go along with this change without debate. Like Senator Fitzgerald, I understood a question and answer session would take place. If the Government is afraid of that, it sends out a bad message.

The issues raised about the budget are absolutely right. I appeal to my Government colleagues. We recognise the practicalities of politics whereby they must be loyal but they should not allow the spin doctors to take over. This is a classic case of changing the words to mean something else. There is a clear difference and let them not try to convince us that a horse chestnut is the same as a chestnut horse, to use that adage. One has a head, tail and whinnies and the other does not. I ask Government Members to examine this issue. There is great anger, which will come back to haunt us.

On the one hand, people refer to the perfect decisions in the budget. The cutbacks are bruising and they will hurt people. It is like a person at the guillotine. There is a perfect head and a perfect body but there is an absolute disconnect between them. The budget does not hang together and when the grey brigades of the over 70s together with the platoons of parents outraged at the school situation and the battalions on the minimum wage flanked by Joe Duffy's private army emerge, the Government will be overwhelmed. This will not work.

It is reported the deal being brought forward tomorrow will allow the banks to select the people who are supposed to look after the public interest. That is an absolute abrogation of responsibility left, right and centre. We are walking into difficulties. Let us deal with it and talk honestly about it. The views of both Government and Opposition Members were the same when we discussed the banking crisis two weeks ago and they should not differ tomorrow.