John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I ask that the Leader provide time for a debate on social partnership. The reality is that social partnership has served this country well. Reference was made earlier to the difficulties in the past couple of months in the social partnership framework. If we are to move forward in these difficult times we must request the Taoiseach to make a state of the nation address on television, give the clear facts, without party political implications, and tell the people we can and will get through these difficult times if we work together. We cannot continue saying that the next income grade should pay higher tax or that before we are prepared to do our bit we want something done to sort out issues in other areas. Many of the issues with which we must deal are immediate. We need to take action now. We cannot wait until the world is perfect to ensure we do what is right.

I make a renewed call for a debate on social partnership to restate the benefits it has brought to this State and to request that everybody works together to ensure we move forward.