Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I will re-phrase it. Is it fair that a certain sector of society is being looked after with sweetheart deals? I ask the Leader for a debate as a matter of urgency. This is not politics but fact. The reality is that as a consequence of this budget, people are now afraid to get sick. Elderly people who should be content at this hour of their lives are now confused, upset and worried. That is a fact. If one walks into any chemist's shop they will tell you that.

In regard to the banking scheme, it is imperative that the Minister for Finance comes to the House and answers questions. I want clarity. Under no circumstances should the people have to pay for bailing out the banks which have betrayed their trust. The scheme published yesterday, to which Senator McCarthy referred, is not clear on details such as who will pay and, more important, who will service on the boards of the banks. Will it be another cosy cartel of friends of the banks and Fianna Fáil in order that what happened before can be allowed to happen again? Is that what the Government wants? We must have the Minister in the House.

We are talking about people here. I am not playing politics. People matter and it is our job to represent them. This Government has let them down, particularly in the past 48 hours.