Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Senator Boyle outlined the Green Party response to the challenges of Government. I accept the points he has made in that regard.

Senator Bacik made a fair point about the over-dependence on construction employment. Approximately 280,000 people were directly employed in construction at the end of 2007 and in early 2008. It should have been obvious that a continuation of employment in that sector would be difficult to sustain for a long period. However, any attempt to address that would have had, among its first consequences, a significant drop in that employment. It is a very difficult decision for a Government to take to decide to drive 100,000, 50,000 or whatever number of people out of employment at that time.