Dan Boyle (Green Party)

Senator Twomey, by placing an amendment to the Order of Business, asked for a debate on the health services and confidence in its chief executive and board. On a Thursday sitting in particular, it is virtually impossible to get someone from any Department to respond on such short notice. I will undertake to ensure such a debate is held at the earliest opportunity.

The main thrust of comments from Senators Twomey, O'Toole, Alex White, Leyden, Regan, Walsh, Norris, Ó Murchú, Hannigan, Ormonde, Coghlan, Quinn, Hanafin, McFadden, Callely, Coffey, Mullen and Buttimer related to requests for ongoing debates on the economy, particularly in light of the IMF report. We have regular debates on the economy in this House and there will be a debate on a financial Bill following the Order of Business today. The IMF report could provide good scope for debate and I will see if it can be put on the Order Paper as quickly as possible.

Private Members' time next week is allocated to the Green Party and we will strive to have a debate on the economic and social cost of unemployment. I hope all Members will enter into it in a suitable spirit and address the concerns expressed on the Order of Business today, particularly by Senators Coffey and McFadden.

It is possible to interpret the IMF report in many ways but I am struck by the comments of Senators O'Toole and Mullen about the need to have appropriate context in having the debate. In the general election in 2007, all political parties put forward manifestos which promised continued economic growth and much of the debate we are hearing now argues that apparently the economic collapse and international recession we are now experiencing was well known and signposted, with many in the political system warning about it. They were not warning about it in 2007. They were promising that whoever entered-----