Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I formally second the amendment proposed by Senator Buttimer. I support the proposition made by Senator Wilson that the Minister for Finance attends the House because this matter concerns his brief and taxpayers' money. The Minister has direct responsibility and has the power to alter matters. He should address the fears, some of which may be groundless. Groundless or not, there are real fears and doubts surrounding the Quinn Group jobs in Cavan. Ambiguity surrounds the Anglo Irish Bank-Quinn Group proposal but the major priority is jobs. We want the question addressed and the Minister for Finance should come to the House.

On the same day, the Minister for Finance could make a statement in this House on the issue raised by Senator Regan. Although it was covered by the media, its gravity was missed because of the internal party issues in Fianna Fáil. Senior ECB personnel impressed upon the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach in the middle of last year that bringing forward the budget and a public commitment to a stringent budget could head off problems for Ireland. This is beyond negligence when one thinks of the interest rates that ensued and the implications for the people when they look at the universal social charge in their pay packets. This is a case of sleeping on the job. This happened on the watch of the Minister of Finance and we need him to make a statement in this House on why he did not address the issues raised by the ECB in the middle of last year. He should also address the jobs issue at the Quinn Group.