Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Fairness is certainly the word of the day. Our hope today is that the provisions of the budget will be fair and that the cuts and the increases in tax are made in such a way that those who can most afford it will pay. Tá géarghá go ndéanfaimid cinnte nach iad siúd is laige in ár sochaí a bheidh thíos leis an cháinfaisnéis inniu.

I agree with what Senator Daly said about cystic fibrosis and I am also glad of that development. It is a pity that people such as Orla Tinsely must go out and campaign to the extent that they do to get the priority they deserved all along.

I am glad, a Chaithaoirligh, that you have introduced a stop-watch principle. I am concerned that one Oireachtas committee seems to be in favour of getting rid of the stop-watch principle in the context of referendum coverage. The cure they propose could be much worse than the disease. I remember, during the divorce referendum, how scandalous was the one-sided coverage in the media. Some 50% of the country voted one way and barely had political representation in the Oireachtas.