Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support those colleagues of mine who called for a debate as soon as possible on the entire banking and economic crisis, something about which we speak every week. However, we do not seem to have had the substantive debate required. I echo the sentiments of my colleagues who have welcomed the initial intervention by Senator Donohoe who has presented a fair and balanced overview of where we are as a country and society and how we must proceed. To paraphrase US President John F. Kennedy, we must declare that the only thing we should fear is fear itself. We are on the edge of a new beginning. Some people would regard it as being on the edge of the precipice but I think we should see it as a new beginning where new structures and new economic foundations, new political thinking and new political ways of doing business will be put in place. I think this country can benefit but it will require very fresh, radical, new and generous thinking on the part of everyone involved in party politics. This is what the people are now crying out for. The old system has failed, the old order is over and a new beginning is just around the corner. I hope that as a result of what we deem to be either a bailout or assistance, a loan or a fund from structures beyond the norm will provide us with the time, space and ability to put in place the new structures and a new system of managing this country, which is required. As has been said so often by many, including myself, there is an unprecedented depth of fear, anger and hopelessness and we must try to change that in the near future because this country is broken. Every broken country can be fixed and broken countries have been fixed on previous occasions in Europe. I refer to the Europe of the 1940s when countries which had shed each other's blood came together and rebuilt and renewed their respective countries and continent. This country can be renewed, provided there is the political will and the courage to do so. This House has a role to play in debating the alternatives. We need to offer some hope and to do that, we need to talk about it. I ask the Leader to give us the space to speak because people have positive contributions to make. We all want to move beyond doom and gloom and I ask the Leader to give us the opportunity to chart the way forward.