Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Talk of fairness in today's budget is premature when one considers the way the Government has dealt with the elderly, those with special needs and cystic fibrosis patients. Can we have a debate on unemployment? I call for a debate on social partnership. I welcome the return to talks by all involved in social partnership. It is time that elected Oireachtas representatives had a role in social partnership. I ask that the Leader convey to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the idea of a new Ireland economic forum, where we can involve everyone, not just those involved in social partnership. This could be similar to what was done with the new Ireland forum in the 1980s regarding the peace process in Northern Ireland. It is important that we involve both Houses in social partnership. I hope the budget will be fair, that we will see the reincarnation of a new Fianna Fáil-led Government and that the Green Party will finally find its wheels pumped up in a Government that lacked leadership and vision on behalf of the people who want leadership from the Government.