Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I agree with other Senators that nobody wants confrontation, but we are entitled to know more. While this may be an interim measure, there must be more to it because it seems to leave us at least €500 million short in the plan to cut €1.3 billion from the public sector wage bill. It is only an interim measure and we hope it will work, but we are in the dark as to whether it will. Thank God, however, there will not be a strike tomorrow.

As Senator Fitzgerald said, we must have some concerns with regard to the impact of this measure on services, particularly education. It was good to hear Senator O'Toole outline how we may be able to get around some of the problems. Health is a more serious area of concern and I look forward to hearing what the Leader has to say on the issue. It is important that in taking this route we allow——