Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I am pleased that, in light of the developments of the past 24 hours and since it looks very likely that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will respond to the Taoiseach's invitation and that we will not have the folly of a day of action on Monday, it is not necessary for me to propose the amendment. It is worth repeating, however, what I said previously, that leadership is what we need at this time. To even consider leading people into strike action suggests a profound lack of leadership in certain quarters where one would expect more. It is almost as though people are looking into the abyss and they think they are at the movies. We are in a very serious situation.

I much preferred Fine Gael's approach to that of the Labour Party yesterday. It does not behove us to say that it is bad for people to go on strike but to use the opportunity to have a tilt at the Government. There is a long and inglorious history in this country of deploring certain actions and then blaming somebody other than the perpetrators — I acknowledge that happened in much more grave situations. Leadership is about taking an unpopular stance. I do not like the phrase "in the national interest" but it is important that we facilitate the best national effort in dealing with the real crisis that is before us.

Ba bhreá liom a lua go bhfuil an eagraíocht ASH Ireland ag iarraidh go gcuirfear €2 sa bhreis ar luach 20 toitín sa bhuiséad atá le teacht. Bhí plé faoi seo againn cheana agus is cuimhin liom rud a dúirt an tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív, nuair a bhí an buiséad is déanaí againn, which was introduced more recently than we all care to remember. He made the point that one consequence of increasing the price of cigarettes would be to increase the risk of smuggling. I do not believe that is a sufficiently substantial reason not to look seriously at significantly increasing cigarette prices. It has been said that an increase of €2 on the price of cigarettes would net €420 million for the economy. Caithfimid breathnú ar an cheist thábhachtach sin agus a bheith sásta rudaí mar sin a dhéanamh.

We would all like the people to take the opportunity presented to us by global Earth Hour on Saturday at 8.30 p.m. when lights will be turned off for one hour. This is not only a symbolic but a substantial opportunity to generate awareness about the importance of our environment.

I am sorry Senator Alex White is not in the House because I intended to congratulate him on ——