Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

On Senator Coffey's point, I ask the Leader for an urgent debate on the Government's approach to tackling unemployment. It is somewhat nauseating to listen to Senator Hanafin talking every day about whatever he talks about. The bottom line is that this morning 140 people lost their jobs in Togher. Senator Coffey said that numbers on the live register have gone up. Yesterday in the Dáil Deputy Kenny offered a cross-party approach to tackling the issue. This morning we on this side of the House will offer the hand of bipartisanship and a cross-party approach to tackling the deficits in the economy, provided the Government listens.

Senator Boyle may smirk and laugh all he wants. He has been pontificating-----