Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

It is important that we would have a much more lengthy debate on the flooding. There is a crisis across the State, but we will get to that later. I hope the Leader will reflect on the fact that one hour is inadequate.

I am disappointed with the Leader. We are two short weeks away from the most crucial budget in the history of the State and most of my colleagues and I have been asking him to arrange a thorough, sensible and full economic debate in this House for the past month or six weeks in which we could raise the issues, present our opinions and listen to alternatives and, I hope, contribute in some small fashion to the economic turnaround of this country. It is not good enough on the part of the Leader to say that we might have a chance of an hour's debate or even a half day's debate next week. If we want this Chamber of the Oireachtas to be real and relevant at this time when there is only one topic on the public mind, namely, the economy, it should be what we are talking about virtually every single day, not just in a talking shop fashion but listening to people, presenting ideas, challenging opinions and, I hope, putting forward solutions. I do not normally make political charges but I regret to say that the Leader is remiss in his duty in not having presented an opportunity for us to have such a debate to date. I would like time to be provided for such a debate with the utmost haste.