He was speaking from the party manifesto.

Senator White spoke about respite care cuts and called for an amendment to the Order of Business to allow the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, to come to the House. The Minister will be before the other House today and will be here for three days next week so I cannot agree to the request. Listening to Senator White and other Fianna Fáil Senators, I am sometimes struck that they are still suffering from a sort of "post-Government syndrome". They seem to be so frustrated at having lost power after 14 years of economic mismanagement. They have lost all powers-----

The Senator is a different person than when she sat there and criticised Fianna Fáil non-stop. She has rolled over completely.

Senator Bacik, without interruption.

They have lost powers of reasoning and memory.

She has rolled over completely with Fine Gael.

The Senator, without interruption.

What about the respite care grant and the back to school allowance?

If elected to the Seanad, a Member must stand up and be counted.

What about the cut to child benefit? Go away out of that. I would finish up if I were the Senator. I would just sit down.

It is very hard to take a lecture from Senator White. We should try to avoid personal comments across the floor of this House; I have always tried to do that.

As a party member, I take the comments personally.

As a matter of courtesy-----

It is not common courtesy when the Senator criticises our party.

Senator Bacik, without interruption.

To comment on people's appearance is a low.

What is the Senator talking about?

Senator Healy Eames reminded Fianna Fáil of its responsibility for the current economic position, which is timely, and sought a debate on the school curriculum. That debate was also being sought by Senator Moran while welcoming survey results on education. The Senator also noted how well Northern Ireland is doing, which is important. We should have the debate and consider, in particular, how to increase the emphasis on maths and science teaching, where there are clear ongoing difficulties.

Senator Barrett mentioned how golfer Rory McIlroy is waiving his fee at Carton House, a good reminder of what can be done. Senator Harte spoke about the property tax and there will be a chance to debate it in this House on Wednesday and Thursday next week. Senator Byrne mentioned Ms Justice Dunne's judgment on repossessions in speaking about a new deal with the IMF. I was puzzled by those comments. He knows that on foot of the November 2010 sell-out by Fianna Fáil and entry into the troika programme, regular reviews are required-----