Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I join Senators Hannigan, Leyden, Keaveney, Callely, Burke, Carty and Cummins in their remarks on the death of Garda Robert McCallion. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and as Leader of the House, I join my colleagues in sending our condolences to the McCallion family. It is an appalling tragedy that should not have happened. As has been said by colleagues in the House this morning, every day that members of the Garda Síochána go to work, they are putting their lives at risk. To the Garda Representative Association and to the family of Garda McCallion, which gave sterling service for generations to the Garda Síochána and to the forces, we extend our support and our sincere condolences.

Senators Fitzgerald, Norris, Hannigan, Boyle, Coghlan, Coffey, Regan, Mary White, Ó Murchú, Buttimer, Callely, Doherty, Hanafin, Burke, Mullen, Walsh, Healy Eames, Cummins, McFadden and Twomey expressed their views on the budget. The supplementary budget was brought forward to correct the imbalances on the financial side. The point the Government made yesterday was that the public finances had to be stabilised and until we put our own house in order it is reasonable and fair to say that we cannot expect those who might invest in our country to have confidence in us as a nation. Colleagues on all sides of the House will agree that we must restore our damaged banking system. Credit is the lifeblood of an economy and unless we take radical and bold action to resolve the crisis and resume the flow of credit, which colleagues on all sides of the House highlighted here on numerous occasions on the Order of Business, the economy will not recover.

With that challenge facing the Government, it is now proposing corrective measures for our consideration. As has been said, we must restore our reputation abroad. This is one of the most——