Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I would like to acknowledge former Senator Mulcahy in the Gallery.

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Hannigan, Regan, Callely, Ó Murchú, Coffey, Bacik, Coghlan, Hanafin, Buttimer, Norris, O'Reilly, Mullen and Healy Eames expressed various concerns regarding the economy. As I said in the House yesterday, although some Senators may not have been here, we had a special debate on the economy on 6 December. The Seanad has had its say on the framework proposals coming forward today. It is unfair and untrue for colleagues to say this morning they have not been allowed to make known their views to the Minister for Finance on the framework document being announced today. This is only the start——