Fiona O'Malley (Independent)

I agree with Senator Fitzgerald that the conduct of the Green Party yesterday not to support the Government has only destabilised a very fragile situation. Whatever about looking after their party members' interests, the two Green Party Ministers hold two constitutional offices and have a duty to uphold some level of loyalty and integrity to their Government colleagues, in particular the Taoiseach. As the markets have shown, the Green Party's conduct has destabilised the situation for the country rather than having any other effect, and it is deeply regrettable.

Regarding the budget and the general election we will be having, of course people need to have their say on what will happen next and they will have that opportunity. It is very important, however, that all Members of the Oireachtas agree the four-year plan.

We also need to be careful about people's expectations. The people will have their opportunity to cast judgment on all politicians and their conduct. We do not need people's expectations to be whipped up. We are entering into a new period in politics. The last thing we need to do is to mislead people into thinking things can be otherwise. That is why most parties are agreed on the necessity to pass the four-year plan and a strategy for the International Monetary Fund, IMF. A commentator said last night the people deserve a choice. They have a choice between those who believe in the IMF, the four-year plan and the targets as highlighted and those who do not — the Labour Party and Sinn Féin.