Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

Senator Cullinane proposed that the Order of Business be amended. He requested yesterday that we debate the budget. Obviously, I am not seconding his formal proposal but I believe that, with the budget being announced on Tuesday fortnight and every item discussed here yesterday, today and, I presume, over the next few days proving to be related to budgetary policy, it would be helpful if we could outline our views on what the Government should be doing in the budget. This will require us to outline how the magical figure of €3.8 billion will be achieved. There are no easy answers, as we all know, but it would be helpful if we had the opportunity to stop the political sideshow, sniping and games of tennis and actually put our proposals on the table.