Seanad debates

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

10:30 am

Photo of Michael McCarthyMichael McCarthy (Labour)

I begin by acknowledging the mass in the private dining room this morning for the deceased Members of the Oireachtas. It was a special, thoughtful and prayerful tribute to Members of the House who have gone before us, not least those who died during this term. It was a nice way to honour their memories and to start business in the Oireachtas.

I welcome the fact we will debate the four-year plan today and agree with Senator Fitzgerald that the state in which this country finds itself is shameful. We are an absolute disgrace internationally and the manner in which greed and avarice created a property bubble supported by Government tax incentives and initiatives means we now expect the marginalised, vulnerable, those on basic rates of social welfare, students struggling to get third level education, pensioners fearful of a reduction in income and people fighting with banks through the courts to hang on to their homes to pay for the crisis. At the same time, we have a Government in absolute denial. On top of the economic mess, we have political instability, which is the worst thing the country could have at this time.

When this House was formed in 1922, it played a significant and constructive role in a dark historical era of this country. The body politic and, in particular, Seanad Éireann has an important role to play in how we come out of this mess. We will come out of this mess and it is a question of where we will be when we come out of it. This House has a significant contribution to make. There is much cynical and anti-politics comment at the moment, driven by elements of a very cynical media who want us to say we should give the keys of Leinster House to someone from Ryanair or another company in order that a businessman would run this country. We have a parliamentary democracy in this country for which people gave their lives. As a result of free and fair elections, a Government is formed and administers according to the policies it brought to the people. I hope that will happen sooner rather than later and that the manner in which it is done does not damage the credibility of Ireland further. I find it annoying in the extreme when people bash politics. Only politics can bring us out of this current mess and we all have a role to play in that.

Senator O'Toole made some important points about the budget. Why has the budget not been brought forward? What is the manner in which engagement with the Opposition parties has taken place in respect of the four-year plan, the budget and the legislative effects of the budget such as the Finance Bill and the social welfare Bill? We need open and honest Government and, in the dying days of this Administration, I appeal to the Leader to appeal to the Taoiseach to bring some leadership, even at this late stage in the game.

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