Shane Ross (Independent)

The bond auction that was due for bidding this morning was extremely successful. It went down very well and it is over-subscribed. It is only fair, in these bad times, for which the Government must bear some responsibility, that, when the Minister takes the bit between his teeth, goes out to sell Ireland and gets a good reaction, we should acknowledge it. I ask that the first thing the Leader does when the Minister gets home is to ask him to come to the House and tell us what he has been doing. It is a good, interesting and important story. What the international markets think of us is the most important thing for our prosperity at present. If we cannot get money from them we are in serious trouble. It should be acknowledged that the Minister has done a very good job in the past few days.