Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

He was, indeed. However, he is much busier now. I listened with interest to the debate and was delighted with the contributions from all sides of the House. Some very constructive points were made in some of the presentations.

I commend the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Cabinet on what they have done. It was a courageous step but there was no other choice. Nothing else was on offer. It had to be done, and done immediately. I was delighted to hear, on "Morning Ireland" yesterday, two of the country's leading economists say it was courageous of the Taoiseach and the Minister, that it was the right move and that it is the first step in a long journey. We must regain our competitiveness. This is the first step towards improving the country's economic situation; it is a first step towards recovery.

The €900 million reduction in tax yield in January is unprecedented. We have never seen such figures. Undoubtedly, the situation is gloomy but we cannot become despondent. If we do, we will be unable to do anything. We will be unable to borrow and what will we be faced with then? I hate to think of it and will not even say it. Words have a way of sneaking out of places such as this, they are jigged around and are put across another way. It is unsustainable to think we can borrow €18 billion to run the country. We cannot do that. Pay increases will not be paid in 2010, and rightly so. I believe everybody wishes to play their part in getting the country back moving again.

My main reason for contributing to this debate is to address something quite upsetting, how it has become fashionable in recent days to question the concept of social partnership. The leader of Fine Gael accused the Government of covering itself in a cloak of social partnership. He said, "The public coffers have been emptied, the developers and the banks are bust, and trade unions have little to offer." He said it — I was in the Chamber and heard him — in a very dismissive tone, which has been echoed in this House and in the public pronouncements from various Fine Gael Deputies and Senators. I also have been disappointed by the contributions of some of the Labour Party speakers, who seem not to recognise the true value of social partnership or the contribution made by the partnership process to the development of the Irish economy.

I am a trade union member. The Leas-Chathaoirleach can smile all he wants. I would prefer if he did not look to his own side of the House and sneer while I am making a presentation. It is very off-putting.

As a trade unionist and somebody nominated to the labour panel to contest my seat in the Seanad——