Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

-----and the big announcements made by Government. If the Members on the Government benches had listened to our proposals on savings that could be made that would not affect those on social welfare and the vulnerable, perhaps we would not be doing this.

It is an extraordinary time. If one goes into social welfare offices and speaks to community welfare officers, one hears of the queues. Sometimes Government speak refers to outcomes and statistics, and we see the figures released this morning. In the Bill we are talking about people, not figures or statistics.

People are looking for hope. Today is President Obama's 100th day in office. Whatever else one may say about him, he has given people hope. His approval ratings are extraordinary for a man who is president in the middle of this economic recession.

People want leadership and vision and nobody is fooled anymore by this Government. Senator McDonald spoke of going out to the local election campaign. I invite her to come out with me any night of the week to experience the venom and hostility out there.