Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Alex White, Cannon, Buttimer, O'Malley, Norris, Ó Murchú, Regan, Hanafin, Feeney, Coghlan, Walsh, O'Reilly, Ross, Buttimer, Cummins and John Paul Phelan — I think that is 20 Senators, which is one third of the membership of the House — all expressed their views regarding the social partnership talks and the disappointment we all experienced this morning. It is a serious challenge to the Government and the country.

Let me first put the record straight with regard to our commitment to discussing the economy in this House. The economy was discussed this day two weeks ago, on 20 January, when special legislation was introduced.