Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate Senator Carroll. I admire his decision to come into politics at a time when there is such distaste for politicians. He was qualified to take another career path, if he so desired. I wish him well. He has a hard road ahead, particularly at a time when we are all being ridiculed by the public at large. I wish him luck and we will support him having gone through the mill ourselves.

Many issues were raised today and there is one to which I wish to refer. I hope the Leader will incorporate a debate on cross-Border shopping and a reduction in VAT in the House's pre-budget statements. Yesterday was a sad day for Ireland. On the one hand there were the flood catastrophes with many people's homes destroyed and their morale ruined too. On the other hand, there were the strikes. Hopefully, it will be a day of reckoning. I believe there has been a mood change with the union leaders and they will sit around the table with the Government to reach some compromise so we will not have a repeat of yesterday next week. It is very serious for our country. We need to put our heads together on this. Will the Leader have the pre-budget statements so all views can be aired and trashed out? Hopefully, we might get some sort of brainstorming exercise on this.