P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Someone else used a phrase at the time to describe another bad Government deal, saying that it was like turning up at an ATM machine to withdraw cash. That mess is bad enough but the same Minister was also responsible for the PPARS and the nursing home rebates. If it was not for the multiple faults of this Minister at the taxpayer's expense we would now have a much healthier book of Estimates.

A Government that could take this decision has lost all touch with reality——

See this speech in context