Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Prendergast, Leyden, Coghlan, Donohoe, Callely, Hannigan, John Paul Phelan, Bacik, Kelly and Ross expressed their strong views and concerns regarding the challenges facing the economy. There were very many views on banking. I remind the House that we had an all-day debate on the economy on Friday, 6 December. It was a stimulating debate with the Minister for Finance present for most of it and the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, here for the remainder of it. It was one of the best debates in this House in this session. It is unfair and untrue for Senators to say I am not keeping to my word in keeping the economy centre stage by debating it in the House. We had the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill here all day yesterday, which is the second most important Bill in the year. On Friday, all day, all evening and all night we will have the Finance Bill——