P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

——all touch with its electorate, and has broken the trust of the people who elected it. The Government has been in office for so long that it is being forced to correct its mistakes. I hope that for the next budget, which will probably be introduced sooner than the Minister believes, those on the benches opposite will hold their hands in their pockets rather than jumping to their feet to give a standing ovation to their Minister. They must remember they are here to represent their constituents, rather than to engage in the stroke politics we have seen on this issue. I commend the motion, unamended by the back slappers, to the House.

See this speech in context