Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I join Senator Fitzgerald and other Senators in calling for a debate on the financial crisis facing many couples and partners in their homes. The biggest threat to family life today is paying the mortgage in a mortgage crisis situation. This massive crisis is putting a strain between partners and between husbands and wives. It is unbelievable. We have an obligation to protect the family and the family home. As Senator MacSharry noted, that means we must look at this issue from a collective and holistic point of view. If it means embracing second generation mortgages and so on, let us do that. Let us consider the European model and not be afraid to look at it. Let us have Government action on the protection of the family home. If a family does not have a home it has nothing. The Government has an obligation to take action.

Senator Boyle again raised the issue of consensus. I remind the Senator that consensus is not about the Opposition rolling over and doing the Government's bidding but involves meaningful dialogue and the constructive passing of information. The Government has not done this and has got it wrong on every occasion. The Minister for Finance has not had the correct figures on any occasion. He should come to this House, as should the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach should come to the House this week and explain what he knows about Anglo Irish Bank and what he knew about the banking situation before it collapsed completely. What does he know? What does the Government know? One cannot believe the day from this Government which has got its figures wrong at every opportunity.

Mr. Rehn spoke about consensus. The best consensus we could have would be to go to the people and let them decide who should govern. The people have no confidence in this Government and do not believe it or have trust in it. They do not see its policies working. There are 450,000 unemployed, a generation is emigrating and people are living in fear every day.