Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The message from Commissioner Rehn was there was a need for structural changes to bring us into line with more sustainable economies in the European Union. On these grounds, we need to have a wider debate.

As regards the budgetary process, suggestions are being made about public sector reform. I agree with what Senator O'Toole said, particularly about the interesting Fine Gael document entitled, Reinventing Government. No one in political life can claim to have all the answers to all of the problems. At this time in our political and economic history we especially need to take ideas on board from whatever source, debate them and see if they can be brought to fruition. If we are talking about reinventing government, we must also talk about reinventing democracy. That means having a wider debate and getting rid of the old paradigm of the Government is right and the Opposition is wrong or vice versa. Then, we might go about solving our problems in this country.