Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

The public is waiting in the long grass for the Progressive Democrats this time because people know in their hearts and souls that the party has been in Government during a period when the coffers of the Exchequer were bursting with money but has chosen to look after its own golden circle and forget about elderly people and young people who need leadership.

Although I am one of those who genuinely believe we should have strict laws, on the other hand, I started my career as a youth officer with a youth organisation. The nation, but specifically the Government, should be ashamed of our lack of action to ensure young people have alternatives to the pub. We only scratch the surface. Foróige, the National Youth Council of Ireland and similar organisations have a wealth of ideas but our towns and cities are short of the resources to implement them. Although the Government has the resources, it chooses to deploy them in a different way, as is evident from the tribunals. When the big day comes this is one of the reasons the Minister of State will sit on the Opposition benches.

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