Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I strongly support the points made by Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole on the urgent need for the House to be seen to debate current topical issues of national importance, not only the issue of gangland crime but also the economy. As Senator Norris noted, the House had a useful debate on the Criminal Assets Bureau yesterday. I acknowledge the valiant efforts of Deputy Tony Gregory and the former Ministers for Justice, Ms Nora Owen and Deputy John O'Donoghue, in dealing with this important issue. In that regard, we all wore the same green jersey and a good day's work was done on behalf of the State.

The House urgently needs to get to grips with the important issues of the day. I suggest that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges urgently re-examine the arrangements governing the Order of Business. Subject to the discretion of the Cathaoirleach, the Order of Business should, where necessary, be allowed to run to at least one hour.

One of today's newspapers features a disturbing report on Government finances which indicates that debt levels are spiralling out of control. An eminent economist alleges that gross domestic product will shrink by 2%, if not 3%, next year, whereas the forecast on which the budget was based was that GDP would shrink by only 1%. In such circumstances, borrowing would have to increase to €19 billion next year, €6 billion more than the Government anticipates. In light of this information, does the Deputy Leader anticipate that further corrective action will be taken through short-term financial measures, as appears to be necessary based on the frightening report published today?