David Norris (Independent)

It is a parlous situation. It appears as if the Taoiseach has lost the confidence of a significant number of his own Cabinet members, which must cause difficulty. The sooner this is resolved, the better, especially in a time when we are getting rather inappropriate lectures from people such as Mr. Lorenzo Bini Smaghi of the European Central Bank laying the blame entirely at the foot of the Irish taxpayer. I have tried to refute this argument in this House and hope it will be refuted magisterially by writers for The Irish Times, in which newspaper Mr. Smaghi's comments were cited.

The financial circumstances are appalling. I spoke when the universal social charge was mooted first, and I predicted the way it would go. Senator Fitzgerald is perfectly right is this regard. I listened in horror to a man saying on the radio before lunchtime how he would have to remove his family's VHI coverage and to another whose gas and electricity have been cut off. The latter has a house full of children, one of whom is recovering from swine flu. The family has no means of cooking. This is appalling and must be addressed.

I would like to make a few positive points. I wish well my colleague, Senator Shane Ross, who has announced his intention to stand as an Independent candidate in the general election.