Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I join Senator Harris in condemning the thuggish behaviour of a small few yesterday who were supposedly protesting in the name of a legitimate cause. It is not good enough that young gardaí and members of the security forces must endure that type of loutish behaviour. I am all in favour of people having the right to protest, but it is about time that the people who are on our streets supposedly protesting took responsibility for their actions and that these people are held to account.

I also join Senator Harris in asking the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills to come into the House to explain why the €300 million has not been spent in the Department's budget. It is far too simplistic to blame civil servants for it not being spent. Has the Leader any concept of €300 million? It is almost one third of €1 billion. Look at the number of jobs in the construction industry it could create for idle qualified trades people and builders. More importantly, at another level, look at what one third of €1 billion could do to help us in the smart economy by educating young people in less crowded classrooms and in decent facilities. It is not acceptable that the money is not spent. It is not acceptable merely to blame the civil servant. Where is the political master, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan, who is deputy head and the second person in charge of the Government? That shows that we need reform of how we do business by reforming the public service and by creating efficiencies. It is the deputy leader of the Government, the Tánaiste, who is responsible for the Department. Can she come to the House to explain why the money is not spent?