Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

The crude intervention by IBEC on the social welfare issue is a recipe for social unrest. It is not enough for us to condemn or be critical of this call, IBEC should move immediately on a damage limitation exercise. If it does not do so, its comments in this case could have very serious consequences for the country. One has to ask why the captains of industry are intervening in this manner. Is it intended to shock or distract? Whatever it is, it is not wise. There must be someone in IBEC who could have called a halt to this intervention. I say reluctantly that it is at a time like this one gets an insight into the mindset of the French Revolution. It is absolutely vital that this House declares it is a matter for Government in the first instance to introduce the budget and subsequently for the Houses of the Oireachtas to debate it. I am not suggesting that IBEC and its members are not entitled to put forward their case in a constructive and positive manner, but to humiliate and traumatise the people they have targeted is absolutely and utterly shameful.