Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I commend Senator Boyle for asking for honesty. Will we get the full facts from the Government, given that at every opportunity the Minister for Finance has changed position?

Will the Leader clarify the remarks he made yesterday in the Irish Examiner regarding being able to live on €65,000? They must be clarified because there is a perception among the public that many politicians are out of touch and living the high life or in a bubble, when we do not. Equally, will the Government ever understand the optics of last Monday, as Ministers pretended to be working on a bank holiday, went up to Farmleigh in their State cars and leaned out of the windows to tell people that they feel their pain? Clearly, many members of the Government do not feel or understand their pain and are unaware of their frustration.

Will the Leader facilitate Senator O'Toole's request for a debate on how we can secure investment and get consumer spending to increase? There is €100 billion waiting to be spent. Rather than dividing the public and private sectors we should encourage people with money to spend and create consumer confidence. Many shops, small and medium enterprises and other outlets are struggling to survive. All that is required is a little creativity and incentive from the Government to encourage people to spend and have confidence. Irish people lack confidence at present because they are not getting leadership. They have seen no vision from the Government. Members of this House should show them that we have the ability to play our part in providing them with some type of incentive to spend their money.