David Norris (Independent)

What he said was untrue and I want to correct him. In fact, I spoke against it, as the record shows.

I refer to the situation of an Irish company which, apparently, has been deprived of the opportunity of applying for a job. Many of us will know about the magnificent pipe organ in the National Concert Hall which was built by an Irish company using Irish crafts people. It has been very successful and is widely regarded as a work of architectural significance and art. Now, apparently, it is to be revamped and redeveloped, but the firm which originally made it is, for some reason, to be precluded from even tendering. It has not been asked about it and has not been allowed to tender. Something should be done about this, as we should be encouraging Irish companies. It seems absurd that the company which actually made the organ is to be prevented from tendering.

It is very important that we have an opportunity to relate the stories of some of the people being injured in these terrible financial circumstances. We all receive letters, day after day, some of which are heartbreaking. I recently received a letter from a wonderful man who, with his wife, started a business in the midlands. He was hit by the cutbacks to bank loans-----