I welcome the fact that the German statement last weekend had positive implications from an Irish perspective but the game changer predicted last June has not materialised. The celebratory tone and action of the past number of days has not been reasonable in the context of considering our position on this issue. The Taoiseach and his Ministers need to go to their counterparts in Brussels and come back with a deal because it is not good enough to expect people in mortgage arrears, those who are contemplating cuts to their home help hours and those who are contemplating how long they will have to wait for a medical procedure to go there and say, "We're special". "We're special" does not pay the bills, reduce the debt or give any cognisance to the fact that the people of Ireland fronted up and saved the euro. The German Government needs to be told in no uncertain terms-----

Has the Senator a question for the Acting Leader?

The Taoiseach might take time out of his busy schedule to come to the House to tell us what are his plans to tackle this issue because rhetoric is all we have had over the past number of months. A statement by the German, Finnish and Dutch finance Ministers cast doubt on the so-called game changer of last June and then we had an announcement at the weekend that we are special. To say that "We're special" does not pay the bills.

It is an acknowledgement.

To say that "We're special" will do nothing for the mortgage issues in this country.

Nothing starts without first acknowledging the problem.

To say that "We're special" will not prevent anybody from having their home help hours cut. They are the realities. To say that "We're special" does not cut the mustard, it is not good enough. Government Members can take their celebratory tone back to the Taoiseach and tell him the people of Ireland will no longer put up with this rhetoric.

There is no celebratory tone. This is about solving a problem.

By interrupting, Senator Healy Eames is prolonging Senator MacSharry's contribution.

We want to see some action, finally. Other Senators can shout at me as long as they want but because I am here longer than them, I can stand longer than them and I can shout louder than them. To say that "We're special" does not cut it any more. Let us see some real action rather than this week-on-week rhetoric from the Taoiseach and others.

The jealousy is unreal. I am disappointed.

By interrupting, Senator MacSharry, Senator Healy Eames gave him another minute.