Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

This House has won considerable kudos in recent weeks, particularly on the Order of Business which has been dominated by the economic situation and the forthcoming budget. The debate here is exceptionally balanced and good. As is inevitable at a time like this, various interests will rise to the top. This morning the issue seems to be education. Another morning it was health, another day it will be social welfare and so on. That is understandable but it also poses the question of how we balance all those interests. That is a challenge we face. If the Government decides on a single theme in the forthcoming budget, namely, that those who can pay should pay and that those who need assistance should be focused on, that is the only hope we have of creating unity in this country at present.

I have been observing what has been happening in Greece, as have many other Members. We see people on the sidelines who are waiting for opportunities to create chaos and anarchy. The only hope we have is for people in this House and in Dáil Éireann to work together in manner that I now see emerging. I have listened especially to contributions made by those in the Fine Gael Party in recent weeks and I have heard several good speeches, which clearly indicate that we have achieved a good deal through the debates in this House. Matters may not be necessarily be clear at this stage but they will be clear on budget day. It is not a matter of "if" or "or" but of having a single theme, which is that we should help the vulnerable and that those who can pay should be generous and forthcoming and it should be legislated for in the provisions of the forthcoming budget in December that who can pay should pay.