Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

That is why I am asking that the Chair protect Members in these situations.

The central point I wanted to make on which I am looking for a debate was that the failure of the Minister to extract any significant benefits fiscally from the Croke Park agreement, which the interim report illustrated clearly, meant that the cuts to the public capital programme are so severe that programmes which would generate jobs in the short term and improve our competitiveness in the future are being abandoned. I ask for a debate on the published document, which is light.

I am not making a political point. I am concerned about the comments from backbenchers, particularly within the Labour Party. I refer Members to the front page of the Irish Examiner today. It strikes me - I say this from experience - that we served in difficult times with a minor partner in Government that became flaky. I am really amazed and concerned that the Labour Party backbench Members are becoming as flaky so early in the lifetime the Government.