Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

In fairness, Senator Darragh O'Brien's concerns are understandable if there was any question of the Government not speaking with one voice, but as we know the Cabinet is totally united on the stability treaty and will campaign vigorously knowing that it is in the country's best interests. I have no doubt that if Deputy O'Brien's side and our side, act together, as he put it, and keep the debate focused on what is contained in the treaty itself that we will be successful. In that regard I compliment the Leader, as Senator O'Brien did, on the facility provided on Thursday for a briefing on the treaty during which we can go into more detail. In fairness, most sensible people see it as a no-brainer and a win-win situation, contrary to what has been said by others.

The promissory notes are a separate issue. There is no doubt the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, has done and continues to do much work on them. We know that involves all of the states in coming to a common ground on the issue. It speaks for itself that it is a separate issue and we should leave it alone.

The big danger as I see it on the so-called fiscal stability treaty is that if we were to vote "No", which I do not believe we will do, Europe would move on without us. That would not do us any good. On insurance policies, if I may put it in such a way, this talk of austerity is overdone. We will never be back where our mothers were with butter coupons and grocery vouchers. I was too young at the time to know their exact title and it slips my mind at the moment.