Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I wish to pick up on some of the points made by Senator Fitzgerald. Also, it is fair to make reference to the biased and cynical comments made about elected Independent Members in the news media this morning, comments which have been well supported by many parties. The reality is that the issues raised by the three Independent Members in the other House are of great concern to many ordinary people. They have nothing to do with issues affecting Tipperary North, Tipperary South, Kerry South or Wicklow. They include bankers' bonus payments, an issue with which everyone in the House was in favour of dealing; the civil partnership provisions, of which the House was in favour and, especially, the student fees tax rebate. These issues are of great concern and, with section 23, should have been dealt with. The parties are entitled to take the position that they want an early general election. I understand this, as that is democracy. However, it is totally unbalanced and unfair to blame Independent politicians in the other House for raising issues about which ordinary people are concerned. There should be a clear view on this matter. I congratulate the Independent Members concerned in Dáil Éireann for raising issues of great concern to the people to whom I talk, the same individuals who want us to take another week or two to deal with the issue of bankers' bonus payments, as well as the other issues to which I have referred. That we will be driving students out of college because of the loss of the tax rebate on student fees is a serious issue. These are not matters for self-centred Independent Members but ones about which large parties should also be concerned.