Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I agree wholeheartedly with the thoughtful contributions of Senators Harris and Donohoe. The civil partnership Bill will grant people basic rights. It is not about attacking institutions or taking from those who already have. It recognises that in the third millennium in present day society there are people who are being treated unfairly and unequally. The Bill will rectify that wrong. That is all it is, in deference to views on the other side of the argument.

The revised NAMA business plan, coming nine months after the first one was published, shows that in all likelihood it will not generate a €4.8 billion profit and in the worst case scenario will suffer €800 million of a loss. Something is inherently wrong here. I have asked on several occasions for the Leader to invite in the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance, the most senior of whom who is available, to describe what they were engaging in nine months ago. Was it a complete fantasy? Unemployment is reaching all-time highs, and small and medium-sized enterprises are going to the wall. Banks are not lending and are throwing people out on the side of the street. We now have a return to landlordism that was much worse than was experienced under British rule because it is being done by Irish people to Irish families. No mercy is being shown to those people by the banking fraternity. Yet nine months ago a NAMA business plan was devised on the back of an envelope. The revised plan shows the harsh reality of those figures. It is a very bad deal for the Irish taxpayer with considerable pain and no gain. It is an absolute disgrace. I ask the Leader to organise for the Taoiseach or Minister for Finance to explain to the House the fantasy that was the first NAMA business plan.