Joe O'Toole (Independent)

For the past two or three days I have called for a debate on the topic being discussed by the entire country, which brought tens of thousands of people to the gates of Leinster House yesterday, aspects of which were voted on in the Dáil last night and which we refuse to acknowledge exists. What has happened has brought a great deal about these matters to the fore.

The Leader knows me long enough to know I try to get a disinterested view on issues. When I hear Members on the other side of the House making speeches about the bad manners of those aged over 70, I wait for further elaboration. If such views are expressed it must be asked how the elderly came to take this action. We do not hear views expressed on that aspect, which indicates a lack of balance.

People seem to be in denial. Last night, I heard Ministers and Members of the Government in the other House apologise and it was healthy to hear it. It would be good to hear something similar in this House. I do not necessarily call for apologies but I would like to hear from my colleagues on the other side of the House that they have a clear understanding of what happened.

I would like to discuss aspects of the budget which we have not discussed in this House. We saw the people outside the gate yesterday. We need to examine the implications of the budget for education and agriculture and we should do so before these become issues which must be discussed due to the action taken by forces outside these Houses. I propose that in addition to the matter we will discuss today, we will also discuss the issue of the implications of the budget for education and agriculture and I propose an amendment to the Order of Business in this regard.

These issues have caused hurt and anger. It is not about the increase in class sizes or the lack of implementation of education measures for persons with special educational needs or the removal of special needs assistance. It is about the fact that people were working on a promise, commitments were given and expectations were raised. Now parents, management and teachers are devastated and pupils, who are the focus of it all, will suffer for all of this.

We need to discuss these matters. There is a better way of doing it. Nobody is arguing about the state of the economy or the need to raise more money; we are arguing about the how. We need a discussion to allow people on the other side of the House to go on the record and make clear points. The most recent recorded comments during last week's proceedings by people on the Leader's side of the House are that it was a great budget. They should be afforded the opportunity to ameliorate and modify their position.