Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

We are in an era of root canal politics, which is unfortunate. I and other Fine Gael members have said publicly that the deal should be carried and there is a duty on all of us as politicians and as members of unions or former public sector workers to support the deal. There is no better alternative. Albert Camus spoke about the herd mentality and I appeal to the ordinary public sector worker not to follow the herd and vote against the deal. Such workers should wait for the general election to give Fianna Fáil and the Green Party the bloody nose they deserve.

Senator Harris spoke previously about history and how we should not reflect on past events. It is nevertheless important to consider that it was the policies and financial mishandling in this country by one major party - Fianna Fáil - that led us to our current position. The Minister of State and other Senators will speak about Lehman Brothers and the global recession but the reality is the policies pursued by the likes of Charlie McCreevy, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen have been the main driver of our economic collapse.