Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I share Senator Coffey's sentiment that there is no glory in opinion polls when people are losing their jobs, children with special needs do not have facilities, there are no psychiatric beds for youngsters and it is possible that there will be no money in the coffers next year to pay social welfare or civil servants. There is no glory in the opinion poll today.

I have very serious concerns that the public is not aware of how bad the situation is. I ask the Leader, through the Government, to spell out to the public how bad things are because they might realise it and consider ways other than demonstrating and protesting against the unfairness of it. The Government should take on board the very good suggestion we made this morning of taxing the people who have money rather than the lower paid and the unfortunate people who have no money.