David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I will conclude on this point as I have a question for the Leader. The Minister for Finance conceded that the total profit that will be made by the European Central Bank and the IMF will be €14 billion. This illustrates the extent of the problem with which we must now grapple and the cuts for this year alone may exceed the original forecast of €4 billion. Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke of the potential impact of some of those cuts on older people and so on and, consequently, there is a need for a debate in this House on the bailout, the potential need for a second bailout and whether the country is on the right road. I made this point a number of weeks ago and it is vital that Members are seen to be scrutinising what is happening. It will be important to avoid ending up facing an even bigger financial crisis than the current one in four or five years' time and for Members not to have been perceived as scrutinising and probing properly the decisions that are being made. I ask that the Minister for Finance appear in the House at some stage to discuss those important issues.