That is pathetic. Why did the Government parties do so badly in the local elections?

Come on. We need to get past that type of nonsense.

The Leader, without interruption.

At the doorsteps people said the Government was far worse than Fianna Fáil.

The Members opposite are smiling because they have realised themselves, as I told people yesterday-----

It is disingenuous.

They are scaremongering.

We are thinking of the results of the local elections. That is why we are so happy.

The Leader, without interruption.

If the Senators will not allow me to reply-----

People were saying the Government is worse than Fianna Fáil.

I know the truth is bitter but they will have to listen.

The Government got its answer on 23 May.

The Leader should not invite trouble.

Senators were told yesterday in the House----

How many European seats does Fianna Fáil hold?

The Leader, without interruption.

I have a point of order.

That was a national election.

I call Senator O'Donovan on a point of order.

I should clarify for the Leader that we are smiling at his exuberance.

I thank the Senator.

That was not a point of order. I ask the Leader not to invite trouble.

His sartorial elegance today is fabulous.

I have no intention of inviting trouble.

He is.

I have been provoked from the other side.

The silly season is approaching.

I indicated yesterday that comments on the free travel pass amounted to scaremongering from the other side of the House.

He said that about discretionary medical cards.

There is no question whatever of the travel pass being withdrawn from people.

It is a review.

I told Senators about the review.

The same was said about medical cards.

People clearly did not listen to what went on in the House or else they were not here yesterday.

I was here.

The Leader, without interruption.

I asked the Leader about it yesterday.

What happened with the medical card review?

The Senators opposite were never very good with freedom of speech and their party tried to restrict it many times.

I ask the Leader not to invite trouble.

A right wing party married to the left wing.

I know Senators do not want to listen but allow me to get a word in and remind them of the cuts introduced by the Fianna Fáil-led Government. It abolished the Christmas bonus and it cut the carer's allowance, disability allowance-----

Wrong. We did not abolish-----

-----the blind allowance, the widow pension-----

What was Fine Gael going to do? It was to reinstate everything.

-----and the invalidity pension.

It was going to reinstate everything but it did nothing.

Fianna Fáil did not cut it once but twice.

What about Fine Gael's promises?

They have a cheek at this stage and a brass neck to speak about this Government's cuts.

What has Fine Gael done since taking office? It has gone even further.

That is the current position, whether Senators like it or not.

Fine Gael has gone even further and Senators do not like it.

I have no intention of letting those opposite shout me down.

We must have order.

I am not shouting down the Leader.