Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I support Senators O'Toole and Keaveney with regard to the extremely serious threat to our fishing industry. It is disgraceful that giants such as France, Spain and Portugal can raid our meagre quota at a time when our industry is so vulnerable. This is a serious matter and we should stand firm on it.

With regard to the economic plan, we hope it is a plan for economic recovery and we wish it well. However, it is peculiar that as the Houses are about to break up for the Christmas recess, it is being launched elsewhere today. It is supposed to be a framework for economic recovery and perhaps it is. We would welcome a debate on it which the Leader could fit in either this evening, as was suggested, or tomorrow. We are in the most rapidly deteriorating situation that we have experienced in our lifetimes. Of course we must debate it. It is what everybody will be talking about. This House, as part of the Parliament, should be involved. We are sitting a day longer and we can deal with it. I appeal to the Leader's good sense of proportion to place this on our agenda.