I second the amendment proposed by my colleague, Senator White. I am glad that despite all the turmoil in government, which is a disgrace, she has kept the focus on jobs in this economy because that is the most important issue. It is most unfortunate that the Labour Party, in particular, has taken its eye off that ball. In opposition and in the programme for Government, it proposed a strategic investment bank but nothing has happened in regard to that bank which it promised would create tens of thousands of jobs. Instead it has been caught up in internal disputes and in trying and failing to get its way with Fine Gael.

On a point of order, the Senator is entirely ignoring the many initiatives which the Minister, Deputy Burton, and others have taken.

That is not a point of order.

He is entirely ignoring that facts.

Senator Bacik is a very senior Member of this House and she knows that is not a point of order.

I will take that as a compliment.

That is throwing out a sprat to catch a mackerel.

The Labour Party has this consistent message, and the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, was at it today, of blaming Fianna Fáil. Does the Minister, Deputy Quinn, ever ask his Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, if he destroyed the economy when he was leader of the Progressive Democrats and in government with Fianna Fáil? It is about time that question was asked because it is constantly being asked of this party. Many of those opposite have connections to Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats and would have backed policies which would have made the situation worse. Many of them backed the policies of the last Government. Unemployment has gone up by 0.5% since the Labour Party came into power. It has done nothing.

We will not take lectures from the Senator on unemployment.

I compliment Senator White on bringing up this issue. I wish the Labour Party well but it is finished.

The Senator would know about that.

I said last week that it had a choice about whether it backed the Minister, Deputy Reilly, or the ordinary people. The Labour Party has made its choice. It has backed the Minister and lost a bad fight. It is a disgrace in government and has failed to live up to its mandate. It is about time it called a halt to this and got real people into government who will do right by the people-----

The Senator will feel better after getting that off his chest.

-----not just for their ideology-----

The Senator should sit down now. He had all that pent up over the summer. The wife was sick listening to him giving out.

There is a lecture in five minutes being run by the Labour Party about the Cuban health service. Senator Landy will probably be late for that if he does not leave. How ironic that is happening today.