SEANAD:THOSE ON the Opposition side of the House should co-operate with the Government in order to put through the next budget, which would decide the fate of the country, said Fine Gael Senator Paul Bradford. There was a need to have a national political truce.

He was supported by party colleague Pascal Donohoe, who emphasised the need for a debate about the future of politics. “We are calling again and again for our people to come together in a common purpose to make our country secure. It is now apparent that our politicians need to do the same,” said Mr Donohoe.

Appealing to all his colleagues to think differently and maturely on the crisis we faced, Mr Bradford said: “We should play our part and we should decide with our political partners on this side and on the other side of the House a date, next September or October, for the next general election. Between now and then, we should put petty party politics aside and decide to put Ireland first. Politics can wait and elections can wait, but Ireland cannot wait. It is as serious as that.”

Terry Leyden (FF) said that like Mr Donohoe, he would appeal for a type of Tallaght strategy. Never before had such an approach been needed, involving in particular the main Opposition party.