Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the constructive proposals from the leader of the Green Party, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, and the comments made by our colleague, Senator Dan Boyle, on the idea of consensus on the future budget. One saw that Senator Harris got a great reaction from the Visitors Gallery in this regard. I ask the Leader to arrange, perhaps, for all parties to discuss this matter in the Seanad. All the parties are represented in this House and could contribute to a debate on future budgets in the light of the four-year plan which is required.

It should be borne in mind that all parties have a responsibility. I have the manifestoes from the last general election which I believe are being shredded and are very difficult to find at this time. Nevertheless, I have them and while I do not intend to go back over them because they are history, it is useful to have them because I can quote the fact that the Fine Gael Party was going to spend, over the past four years, the €25 billion we invested in the National Pensions Reserve Fund.