Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I strongly agree with the sentiments of Senator Ó Murchú and others who condemned outright the call made by IBEC, which is absolutely reprehensible. That should steel us into moving forward. I ask that the Deputy Leader to ensure that any attempt to rectify national finances next week is predicated on the principle of equality, fairness and targeting of those who are in a position to take the hit and, in fairness, those who created the problem in the first instance. It might be prudent for the Government to bear in mind that when it took the advice of Mr. Seanie FitzPatrick on medical cards, it was an own goal. It would be a similar own goal to accept the advice of IBEC on this matter.