Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Senator Norris in his fine address mentioned Operation Transformation, in which we both participated. Today is not about the transformation of Ireland; it is the day when Ireland says goodbye to being a low tax economy and we let the little people pay the bill.

I acknowledge the fact we are having this debate in Seanad Éireann, which is important and timely. Unlike Senator Norris, I think this is a serious debate because it is about a four year plan that has failed to deliver. Senator Norris was totally correct, however, that one of the biggest mistakes of Fianna Fáil under Deputy Bertie Ahern was to take away parliamentary scrutiny, particularly with regard to social partnership. I was a strong advocate of social partnership but the Houses of the Oireachtas should have been a pillar of that process.