Alex White (Labour)

I am happy to support the calls that have been made for a debate on the economy in advance of the Budget Statement. Yesterday the Leader indicated his intention to schedule a debate for 1 December but perhaps we should also hold discussions next week. My colleague, Senator Hanafin, was unhappy with my comment that I did not know whether to laugh or cry at his suggestion to trade ideas about what to cut. I am fortified in not taking his suggestion seriously by what happened yesterday in the other House. It is clear the Government, perhaps correctly, has not the slightest intention of providing specific details on where it intends to find €4 billion in savings. To suggest that the Opposition would be invited to set out its detailed list prior to the Government doing so is to live in fantasy land because it is not going to happen. On 9 December, the Minister for Finance will stand up in the Dáil to set out his budget and when he sits down the Opposition spokespersons will make their responses. If Opposition parties disagree with the Government regarding where the savings will be found, it is incumbent on them to explain what they would do instead. However, the notion that we would engage in a trading exercise in which the Opposition would jump first is fanciful. Let us be serious about the debate we want to hold, which should concern principles and vision. Leadership is not just an accountancy exercise; it involves giving the entire community a vision for the future.

The McCarthy report suggested the abolition of the Law Reform Commission, which has brought forward proposals on reforming medical negligence claims to allow for an apology or other restitution from doctors. I have direct professional experience of the effect that the incredible delays and enormous costs arising from medical litigation have had on the medical profession in terms of defensive medicine. The commission's proposals should be considered. The right to bring a case to court to seek compensation for injuries clearly should not be removed but the matter can also be addressed in other ways. We have deliberated on similar reforms in the area of defamation. The commission has performed an important public duty in this area of law reform and I agree with the Tánaiste that many of the proposals contained in the McCarthy report simply do not make sense. I suggest the abolition of the Law Reform Commission is one such proposal.