John Gilroy (Labour)

I will start by assuring Senator Byrne that if he detects a measure of disquiet on this side of the House, it is not any desire on our behalf to interfere with his procedural and democratic rights; it is more a measure of disquiet at the petulant manner in which he sometimes calls a quorum.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The amendment relates to a technical change and does not appear to have any significant controversial element to it. Once the previous Government, with the support of all parties in the Dáil including Sinn Féin, but with the exception of the Labour Party, accepted in 2008 the argument in favour of guaranteeing the banks, a chain of inevitability was established which ultimately led to the Irish economy needing to be bailed out by the EU and others, including our nearest neighbours and friends in the United Kingdom who generously offered €3.8 billion, and unfortunately led us to losing our economic sovereignty.

However appalled we are at this and however much it grieves us to be in this position, we are democrats and bound by the decisions of the majority of the Oireachtas. Now that we are in government, we are contractually bound to uphold international treaties into which the State has entered. Much as everyone would wish this were not the case and that some other course was open to us which would allow us to become debt-free immediately and painlessly, unfortunately, such a route is not available to us. We have been left to deal with the legacy of 14 years of economic carelessness and simple incompetence. Looking back to find blame probably will not help us today, although it is necessary to do so. We note a new-found belligerence in Fianna Fáil unfortunately mingled with the same old delusions and denial. No doubt we will be entertained also-----