Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I support the calls for a debate on next week's action. However, if NAMA is to be dealt with in the House next week, it is a very important vehicle to ensure we get our banking system back on track, which is vital. If that is not being dealt with in the House next week, I would certainly support a discussion of the issue of next week's action.

It is rich when one sees somebody like Arthur Scargill coming over here to advise the unions at this time, having closed 170 pits in the UK, kept his members out for 12 months and then have them go back to work after that time without any increase in wages. I hope the unions in this country have the good common sense not to listen to somebody like Arthur Scargill. It is important I put this on the record of the House.

We can all blame each other as to who is responsible for the dilemma we are now in. The reality is very simple. Everybody took part in it, whether one is at the low end-----