Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I have a fundamental difference of opinion with the Deputy. The Government of which he was part did sign a blank cheque. Minister after Minister came in here during the period in question and said the crisis would cost €6 billion, €7 billion, €14 billion or €20 billion. The fact of the matter is that the previous Government signed a blank cheque and crucified every taxpayer for years to come as a consequence. If one asked Deputy Adams if he would buy a house in west Donegal the first thing he would ask about is the price. Would one put a blank cheque on it? One would not, but that is what the previous Government did with the country. To the eternal shame of the party of which the Deputy is a proud member it signed off on a blank cheque without knowing the scale of-----

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