John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Third quarter CSO results indicate growth in the economy from which the Exchequer has taken €15 billion in revenue over the past couple of years. When we speak about the Irish economy in future we will have to recognise its globalised nature. We are like a cork on the ocean in our dependence on world markets for wealth generation in this nation. The world growth rate is expected to be 4.5% next year and in following years. We seem to have turned the corner.

There were calls for the Lower House to sit next week to complete the Finance Bill. The Labour Party offered to put through a climate Bill on behalf of the Green Party. I am reminded of the Ian Paisley's line, "come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly". My Green Party colleagues recognise that the Opposition is anxious for an election because we have turned the corner.