Shane Ross (Independent)

I endorse everything Senator Bradford said and support the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senators Mullen and Quinn.

The House has a serious responsibility which we continuously funk, which is to make immediate decisions on matters which are relevant. We are always discussing and condemning after the event. We have an opportunity to give a certain amount of leadership and express a view that what will happen tomorrow will send a very serious message, particularly if there is an escalation and further strikes. We have a big problem with our credit rating. I do not know whether people realise this but Ireland's credit rating was downgraded again yesterday. International investors will see our credit rating going down one day and protests on the streets the next. This will damage our reputation and the economy. We have an opportunity in the House to stand up and say we do not wish this to happen and at least test whether this is a House of influence. If the Government funk discussion of this motion today, it will continue the public perception that this is not a particularly relevant body. This is an emergency and we cannot just sit back. We should be taking action and giving leadership. We should be warning that this action will damage Ireland, as will another day of protest. Anyone who doubts this need only wait because if we continue to indulge this irresponsible behaviour on the part of trade unions, we will have the International Monetary Fund coming in. This is a much closer reality than people here are prepared to acknowledge. We are very close to it. If we do not take a stand, if we do not show the world we are prepared to stand up to the unions, then, God help us, we will have an international body take over. If that is what we want, then we should not debate the motion but if we want to show we are in charge, let the House debate it today.