Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader provide for a debate on the programme for Government? I join Senator Donohoe in asking why the Taoiseach is attending the Davos summit this week. Why can he not send the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment instead? Senator Callely earlier spoke about the banks. It is the job of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to ensure the banks are properly monitored and regulated. Instead of going to the piste, perhaps the Taoiseach would stay at home to look after the banks and give more confidence to the people. The banks must be asked to pass on credit to allow small businesses to succeed rather than squeezing them.

While I respect Senator Ó Murchú, I am getting tired of listening to this clarion call for national unity and national government when the most partisan are the Government Members and Members of this House on the Government side. For 11 years, they listened to no one. They heard no one warn about benchmarking, the banking crisis or the property boom that would become an empty vessel. All of a sudden, when they are in crisis, they want help.

While we are talking about pin-up boys, it was Fianna Fáil's former party leader who had the huge make-up bill, not Fine Gael's or the Labour Party's.