Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I extend my Christmas wishes to everyone in the House and to everyone who helps the House run so well. I agree with what Senator Mary White said. Before we get to a smart economy, we must have a cheap economy. We need relentless focus from the Government on making this happen. We have not seen this action to date and it will be desperately needed in the new year.

I add my voice to colleagues registering horror and disgust at the events that took place in the courthouse in Kerry and the subsequent statements made about the matter. I thought this year could not get any worse with regard to events of this kind but I was proven wrong.

Many colleagues referred to the role of the Seanad and the role of Parliament next year. We have two great opportunities next year. The passage of the Lisbon treaty confers new powers and capabilities on the Houses of the Oireachtas that they have not had up to this point. Powers have been extended to the Parliament as opposed to just the Government. We could well use time next year to understand what these powers are and how this House, in particular, can make use of them.

The hiatus in social partnership provides an opportunity for Parliament and Government to step in and deal with many of the issues it should have dealt with in the first place. At the beginning of this year we heard many calls for a national Government. I repeat that it is not national Government we need, it is rational Government. By strengthening the role of Parliament in some of the ways suggested, this House can make a major contribution to that.