Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)

——yet it is subject to the most hostile and constant criticism from Labour, which would wish it out of existence. If that happened, the consumer would pay the same price as we once paid —£300 — for a return flight to London. That policy does not serve the consumer. Labour's attitude demonstrates that the benefits of competition provided to the consumer are coloured by the obligations to vested interests and its chief financial backer, the unions. If Labour gets into power, competitive forces will become subservient to those vested interests and the interests of the consumer will lose out.

I support the amended motion, since in contrast to the policies of Fine Gael and Labour, those pursued by the Government are the right ones for the consumer and the economy. It has proven that by being re-elected.

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