David Norris (Independent)

This is a matter which needs to be discussed in this House. We are told now that we may be permitted to use some of this money for reinvestment in jobs. What about the assets? I will table a motion that we re-adopt the Keating principles. I hope the Labour Party will support me on this. The people are entitled to a just proportion of their assets. There seems to be a complete lack of democracy in the macroeconomic sphere and it is repeated in the microeconomic sphere, as Senator Bacik has indicated with regard to the bin charges. This used to be done as a public utility and now it has been privatised, despite and against the express wishes and vote of the elected representatives in Dublin City Council. Again, the people are being neglected and this is utterly wrong.

I refer to the business of the Vatican embassy. It is difficult to see it as a purely economic matter. I find that a little difficult to swallow, the same way as I do not believe the abolition of the Seanad is an economic measure; it does not make sense and the figures are too small.