Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Ordinary people cannot pay their mortgage or meet child care costs and are sacrificing dinners, for example, to pay for medicines, uniforms or books for their childrden. That is the reality.

The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, is sitting on his hands while hundreds of families are distressed by the problems encountered in inter-country adoptions. The Tánaiste has not discussed in the House the matter of job creation, a debate I seek as a matter of urgency. It is the greatest issue facing us, but the Government has no plan to deal with it. The Duke of York, Senator Boyle, will roll down from the hilltop but, like Humpty Dumpty, the Government will not be able to put him or itself back together.