John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I call for a debate on the emerging reality of a mini-budget. I am conscious that support is being sought across the political divide this morning. Should that divide not be forthcoming, I am certain the Government will continue to do what it must. I have noticed that debate in this House often focuses on what is happening in Ireland. It is not acceptable to consider the Irish economy out of the context of the world economy. We need to balance our books. I would welcome a strong and decisive move on the part of the Minister for Finance to ensure our finances are brought under control. This will provide stability and confidence in the markets. At a time when governments throughout Europe are going around with a cart and asking the financial institutions to bring out their dead, when banks are falling left, right and centre and given the world economy was in serious jeopardy of depression earlier this year, to pretend when debating issues in this House that we live in an economic vacuum is a nonsense.

I would welcome if the Minister for Social and Family Affairs took the opportunity to come to this House to comment on the great improvements in stamping out fraud. The measures introduced by the late Deputy Séamus Brennan and implemented by the current Minister have saved the taxpayer €450 million. The people calling for the elimination of waste and fraud in social welfare are the same people calling for the introduction of measures to eliminate the need for people to sign-on. While it will take time to get our offices in order, social welfare fraud and abuse must be eliminated. This means people will have to sign on.