Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey. I compliment Senators Twomey and Donohoe on their remarks. I agree with Senator O'Malley that we are obsessed with growth in property prices, including development land. It is time we moved away from this. We must inject realism back into the economy. I wonder, however, if we have moved away from that aspect at all.

This debate is about the future. As Senator Harris eloquently put it, we are in the middle of a war. I agree with him that we are in the middle of a battle which requires us to confront the matter on behalf of future generations. We must clean up the corporate image of Ireland plc and examine the banking institutions. In addition, we must examine the role of the banking regulator and offer investors a good place in which to invest. For the record, Fine Gael has brought forward a different model. I hope, therefore, the Minister for Finance and others will listen to our alternative proposal.