Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

Of all people, the Minister of State was particularly associated with Deputy Bertie Ahern, the architect of this country's downfall. I have heard the Minister of State defend him at some length. Were it not for his grossly self-serving political agenda of waste and expenditure in this country, we would not be in the mess we are in. If this Government had any respect for the electorate, the Parliament, or the people of this country, it would have involved Fine Gael and the Opposition parties in these negotiations. The Government would not have concluded a shambolic deal with the IMF without input from the incoming Government. That is an indictment and shows where the patriotism of Fianna Fáil lies. It shows where the commitment to this Republic stands.

I am disappointed that we have heard no talk of job creation. We have seen ridiculous, fantastic growth predictions in the four year budgetary strategy and we have heard many comments from Ministers over the past number of weeks in respect of growth. The growth projections for the next and the following three years are aspirational. There is no plan to generate that growth and no plan for job creation. The agenda of job creation has gone off this Government's agenda, with the logic being that it will not be the problem of this Government, but it is a national disgrace. The way this Government has tied the National Pensions Reserve Fund does a disservice to the country. It makes it impossible for future Governments to utilise those as part of a stimulus plan. This Government has not given any focus or attention to the enterprise economy and how we can stimulate job creation and protection in this country. The only good news I have heard is the assurance the IMF gave to Fine Gael today that we can propose the sale of State assets after the next election for investment in this country with a view to job creation. That is the only silver lining on this sad, sorry mess.

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