Alex White (Labour)

As we had a fair level of debate on the banks last week, I will not dwell on the point. The central objective of the NAMA project is to get credit flowing in the economy. I cannot understand the contradiction at the heart of the argument in favour of NAMA made by some colleagues in the House. They freely state they do not believe credit will flow again, yet they still support the NAMA project. I cannot understand this. If one does not think the central objective will be achieved, how can one possibly support it? I am open to someone giving me the answer but it seems to be a fundamental contradiction.

I respectfully disagree with Senator O'Toole on the laptop initiative. I welcome the decision of the Minister for Education and Science, surprising as it may seem for me to do so. We are examining these matters in the run-up to the budget and the question of cuts is being debated. According to reports in the British press this morning, the British Secretary of State for Education is making a big play of protecting and preserving spending on education. Therefore, the ICT initiative in schools is important. However, it is very limited and far from being enough. I agree with Senator O'Toole on broadband but if we are to be fair in the House, we should welcome such an initiative, however modest it is. From my family and children elsewhere, I know access to ICT techniques in schools is of vital importance. When I was a member of South Dublin County Council, I was very proud when the Labour Party-led council was able to provide a laptop not just for every classroom but for every individual pupil in St. Aidan's, a secondary school in west Tallaght. Senator Hannigan tells me that in Uruguay a laptop is provided for every school pupil. This is a move in the right direction and should be welcomed. I agree that it does not go far enough. Will the Leader do what he can to ensure spending in education? In other decades with other generations we saw that preserving spending on education set a very important baseline for the future success of the economy.

I agree with what Senator Cummins stated on salaries in banks. Does the Minister's writ run in the banks or not? Whether he can make stick his statement on a €500,000 per annum will be a big test.