Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Any signal from the House to the effect that we condone assaults on gardaí should stop. We should protect gardaí and the full rigour of the law should be applied to anyone who intimidates or assaults them.

In the context of Senator John Paul Phelan's remarks on Oireachtas reform and in light of the forthcoming budget on 7 April, I ask the Leader to arrange for the House to sit on Wednesday and Thursday of next week to avoid sending the wrong message to the wider public that it is unavailable for business. This should be done to enable Members to discuss the budget under the headings of social welfare and education. As for Senator Alex White's comments this morning on third level colleges, I also remind Members that there is a very good university in Cork that should not be forgotten about. Moreover, such a debate should have regard to expenditure on the national development plan, taxation, health issues and communications.

In particular, I refer to the comments made by representatives of Eircom yesterday at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to the effect it now is reviewing its spending. I remind Eircom that Ireland extends further than the M50 or the M7 and this must be remembered. Were Members to sit next week, it would do a great service to this House and the Oireachtas. I ask the Leader to schedule sittings for next week, as so doing would send a message that Members are serious about reform and the budget as well as being on the side of the ordinary person and those who have lost their jobs in particular.