Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, Corrigan, Boyle, Cummins and Hanafin all called for urgent updates on the banking crisis and on the budget and budgetary matters. They also want a debate on what is being done for small businesses which are under siege and about rates relief, which many colleagues mentioned this morning. I have no difficulty with these debates taking place. We will have more than one debate on the forthcoming budget. I intend to hold a debate on our financial circumstances every second week between now and budget day. We hope to return to that commitment to assist the Government with the good proposals that will emanate from this House. They will be well-received by the Government.

Senators Fitzgerald, Buttimer, Regan, Ellis and Cummins referred to the 73 bags of heroin that were found in a cell in Limerick Prison. This is very alarming. It is appalling to say the least. It should not happen. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will do everything in his power to get rid of the drug epidemic that seems to be rife in certain prisons around the country. I will make an urgent request of the Minister to come to the House to update Members on the national drug strategy, drugs in prisons and overcrowding, as Senator Cummins requested. I will do everything I can to bring the Minister to the House at the earliest possible time so that colleagues can express their views and he can update them on what is taking place.

Senators O'Toole, Alex White, Boyle, Ó Murchú and Buttimer all expressed their views on social partnership and hoped that union members will not engage in the massive strike as they are being called on to do. Everyone has leadership responsibility. The union leadership is no different from that of the Taoiseach or anyone else in a responsible position. We must realise that we do not have the luxury of addressing the country's finances in this budget. We have had 11 fair budgets that helped the poorer sections of our community, and gave double the rates of inflation to social welfare and everything pertaining to it. This budget will be completely different as we all know. It will be a budget of urgent corrective measures and everyone must play his or her part. I hope that common sense will prevail.

Social partnership has served this country well since 1987 when two out of every three streetlights in the country were turned off and there was no money for anything. We faced a serious challenge and the Taoiseach of the day, the late Charles Haughey, got together with Michael Mullen, the leader of the trade union movement. The present trade union leader has a responsibility, created by his predecessor, along with the present Taoiseach to lead his people in the national interest and to find common ground such that we will not see tens of thousands of our neighbours, our friends and relations on the streets. Everyone wants to play his or her part and to be told that it will be for a period of time. Everyone will play his or her part if that is the case. I call on everyone here today from Seanad Éireann to act in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the people who yearn for the implementation of measures to deal with the challenges facing the Government in this budget.

Senators Bradford and Glynn spoke about the Nursing Home Support Scheme Bill, saying it was a fair Bill which encourages our senior citizens and that the small charge of €190 will ensure standards will be maintained and our senior citizens get the service they deserve and require. When I heard on the radio this morning that the charge would be passed on, I thought how unreal it is that greed has taken over in certain quarters.