Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I agree with everything said by Senator Norris and I look forward to the debate being ventilated much more strongly in the House and among the broader community. I ask the Leader for a debate on the Croke Park agreement at the earliest possible opportunity. I hope that such a debate can be commenced before the Christmas recess. Ministers are currently attempting to finalise the Budget Statement for next week and it is fair to say that to a large extent their hands are tied by the provisions of the Croke Park agreement.

If we are to debate the Croke Park agreement in this House, we should not follow a "tear up the agreement" pattern because we know life is not as easy as that. There are certain elements, terms and conditions within the Croke Park agreement which are unreasonable and cannot remain in the current economic climate where we are absolutely beholden to the IMF-EU programme. We were told 12 months ago, when the IMF arrived in the country, that everything was on the table for renegotiation. I read with interest at the weekend the result of an Irish Examiner survey which indicated that the Irish public - which is always much more mature and further ahead than the body politic - accepts that we must work within the terms of the agreement. In that spirit of public common sense we need to revisit, where possible and practical, some of the Croke Park agreement to ensure this country can regain its economic sovereignty at the earliest possible date.

I am asking for a mature, open and frank debate on the Croke Park agreement. In the current economic climate, what was agreed and thought feasible and desirable 12 months ago is no longer as practical and acceptable as it may have been. We must all live in the new economic order and cut our cloth accordingly. That is why matters such as the Croke Park agreement must be up for consideration. We should start the debate in this House. It does not have to be a Punch and Judy show and this House is at its best when people make common sense suggestions in a bipartisan and friendly fashion, bringing forward constructive suggestions rather than party political propaganda. It is the ideal House in which to start a debate on the Croke Park agreement.