Seanad debates

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

10:30 am

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

Today marks an unprecedented day for Irish politics. The leader of Fine Gael will meet the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to review the crisis our country is in. This unprecedented day for our politics arrives during an unprecedented economic era. As this country's problems are so serious, today should not be a day for glib soundbites, or for spoofing about where our economy stands. It is a day for honesty and clarity. We need to create an environment in which the hope and confidence of our people can grow. I hope that as a result of the meeting, those on whom we depend for funding will have more confidence in where this country stands. The absence of hope is not just a problem in itself - it has also become part of the economic crisis we are in. At the end of 2006, approximately €77 billion was being saved by households and consumers in this country. As of the middle of this year, that figure has increased to approximately €85 billion because people have so little confidence for the future. If confidence was restored and half of that money was taken out of bank accounts and spent, it would give a greater stimulus to our economy than anything the State could do in the years to come.

The question of waste has been discussed in this House in recent times. We have learned today that UCD and the Higher Education Authority are in negotiations regarding the spending of €1.6 million that should not have been spent. Questions have been asked about the spending by the HSE of approximately €67 million on agencies. We are aware that the Taoiseach's special advisers cost the taxpayer €800,000 per annum. All of these matters have to be addressed. Expenditure of that nature is no longer appropriate to the era we are in. We need to state honestly that dealing with the manner in which public moneys are spent and wasted is not enough in itself, although it is an important start. Fairness demands that everybody should give according to his or her means. The environment we are in means everybody is likely to be asked to play his or her part.

During his election campaign, the President of the United States remarked that there is nothing false about hope. It is now apparent to many of us that there has been something false about the hope this Government has given us with regard to where the Irish economy has stood up to this point. I hope today marks the end of that. I hope the Taoiseach has the confidence to give clarity to the country regarding where things stand and what the future is likely to hold. Both sides need to be involved in the process of reaching out and achieving consensus. I hope the Government initiates such a process today.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.