Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely that non-Government motion No. 39, No. 21 on the Order Paper, be taken without debate before No. 1.

I found yesterday's debate very interesting and compliment the Leader on having that debate. A pre-budget debate eight days before the budget makes a great deal of sense. I am not sure I understand how we can stand up today and debate it again. However, as Senator Fitzgerald said, there has been a development with the publication in one medium of the results of the agreement yesterday.

I was rather honoured by Senator Alex White yesterday who referred to my thoughts as being fanciful. That is quite a compliment to me. I hope Senator White does not mind me returning the compliment by saying his thoughts today were a little fanciful. I am concerned by some of the details regarding the 12 days unpaid leave. Senator O'Toole said those 12 days could be spread over a number of years. Senator Fitzgerald spoke earlier about the importance of international credibility. I have a concern about international credibility with regard to the deal it appears was made yesterday. As I was coming to work this morning I heard someone on the radio speak about a company in the private sector whose employees took two weeks unpaid leave last year. However, they got paid unemployment benefit during those two weeks and came out better than they would have done. I would like my mind to be put at rest. I would like to know this will be a win situation for the State and it will save €1 billion, or whatever it expects to save, on the basis of agreeing to unpaid leave.

I have a concern about the service we will get if we are so overstaffed that we can do without the 12 days of work. I do not understand this. I have some grandchildren at school in France and have met some of their teachers there. They cannot understand the education system here and the number of days and hours worked in teaching in Ireland. I also have a huge concern with regard to the number of appointments that had to be cancelled when we had just a one-day strike last week. If it is such a benefit to have 12 days off, would it not have been better to have 12 days strike and save the money on that basis? I ask this with tongue in cheek.