Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I never interrupt anyone in this House and expect the same courtesy when I speak.

I support Senator Harris in that we must examine the public sector, including the health service and any area which has a major budget. If we do not do so, we will not be able to support the social welfare and education services. It was grand when we had the Celtic tiger which was purring away and producing money but we must now live in the real world. Nobody will bail us out. If we are serious, we will adjust all our budgets, in every service we are delivering. We cannot afford it. We are borrowing approximately €6 billion and unless we come to grips, that cannot be sustained. I call for a debate on the economy at which the Minister must be present. I am glad the Opposition is beginning to realise that we have serious problems and we will have to sort them out together.

Listening to Senator Regan speak about Fine Gael's improvement in the polls——