Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Unlike my esteemed colleague, Senator Fitzgerald, I welcome the Taoiseach's statement over the weekend. It was called for, measured and people listened and paid attention to it. He has got himself into the driving seat to ensure he will push and deliver on public sector reform. It was an important statement and one that now allows him to follow his own agenda and the wider agenda, in that there are issues the Government is looking for and which it is clear about it. The Government says it wants this done in three years and that it wants a reduction in social welfare, in public services and in public sector pay. The ICTU is talking about extending that period and is calling for tax hikes for those earning above a certain amount, and it is also talking about public sector reform.

I believe the Taoiseach is in a very strong position to deliver and no one can resist that delivery at this stage. I also believe that if he moves on some of the issues that his critics have put forward, this will allow him to make progress on every one of the issues I mentioned. This is the reality that people recognise. As I said previously, there is a certain amount of synchronisation of strategies at present but it takes a period of time to get everybody singing off the same hymn sheet.

The Leader may listen again to the point made by Senator Fitzgerald, as well as by Senators Bradford, MacSharry and myself, and made at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in recent times, namely, that we should have a reflection of the national partnership talks in the House. We should have into the House a representative from IBEC, from the ICTU and perhaps from the Government to put forward their point of view so that we can respond to it. That is a very good idea because it forces everybody to respond to all the issues. It kills this polarisation where everybody can stand up and make their own speech and give their own point of view and not have to engage with the opposing argument. It would be helpful to the operation of this House if people were forced to respond to all the argumentation from all sides.