Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

If it has not already been seconded, I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Fitzgerald to have a debate on banking. I hear the cacophony of sound from Members opposite regarding the public sector, which is being demonised by Government and treated badly. We must respect and cherish our workers. It is about time that Government engaged meaningfully with social partners or they will have anarchy in the streets, which we must avoid. Why is the Government afraid to have a debate in this House on banking? Why is it afraid to come to the House and answer questions on why the banking model it proposed is not working and has failed so far?

Every small business owner and mortgage holder tells a story of credit not flowing. This morning's results from AIB underline the need for the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance to admit the truth and not to mislead the House about those results. Have we the full facts from the Government at all? I disagree with Senator Harris in that the Government is genuinely afraid. Never before have we seen sons, daughters and grandchildren coming home, taking their own lives, struggling and having their homes repossessed. That is the reality in the modern-day Cork in which I live. Elderly people, who are grandparents in the main, are absolutely under pressure. Tá siad go léir faoi bhrú. What do we get from Government? Silence. When will we have a debate on banking? The Leader should stand up like a man and tell the House it will be next week or this week or, we hope, today.