Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader indicate why the House has not engaged in debates on the economy, on the increase in unemployment or on the cutbacks in education that were announced in the budget? I was asked questions on two of those three matters by 15 year old students of a school which I visited yesterday as part of the Oireachtas education programme. Perhaps the Leader will explain the reasons the Ministers have not come into the House.

I have great respect for Senator Harris, who is a man I admire greatly. However, I am a little tired of people criticising Senator Regan who today asked a fundamental question which I too wish to put to the Leader, namely, does he and Members opposite believe it is correct that the former Taoiseach is interfering in Government business at a time that is most critical to the banking sector? Is that correct? Is the former Taoiseach trying to be former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in driving from the back seat?

I pay tribute to the many thousands of people involved in community employment schemes and to the dedicated staff of FÁS.