John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader for a debate on the economy, with specific reference to competitiveness. This week Standard & Poor's commented on the Government and on Irish finances, awarding a downgrade of our AAA status. I am conscious also that the same agency gave AAA ratings to the very item that almost brought about the collapse of the world economies, namely, sub-prime lending. In light of that and because of its interference in a local and national issue, I suggest that Standard & Poor's has gone from being reliable to being very unstable.

I ask for a debate on the possibility of including an increase of up to €2 on the price of cigarettes. I am particularly cognisant of the fact there are also possibilities in the area of drink where if minimum pricing orders were to be simultaneously implemented in the North and here, it would cut out any of the cross-Border smuggling but would give both areas an opportunity to gain significant revenue with added health benefits to the community.