John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I totally reject the sentiments expressed in this grossly inaccurate motion. Its sponsors are being disingenuous with the people on the progress made in recent years in areas such as the economy, education, social welfare and justice. The advances made by the Government have been remarkable. Radical changes in all areas of Irish life have been made possible by the revenues generated from a well managed and buoyant economy. This did not happen by chance, as Opposition colleagues often suggest, but as a result of careful management of the economy and the adoption of appropriate policies. Employment was created through low taxation; entrepreneurship was incentivised, while risk takers were rewarded. The fruits of the success of the economy allow the Government to adopt new and radical policies which will affect many areas of Irish life.

Recently, the Green Party stated it would spend an extra €1 billion per year on education if it was in government. Unfortunately, as the members of that party are not present tonight, I cannot remind them that the Government has increased spending by that amount in all aspects of education. We are spending more on primary, secondary and tertiary education and investing in special education and school building programmes. The education budget for this year is nearly €8 billion, or two and a half times the figure when the rainbow coalition left office in 1997. In recent years an additional 5,000 teachers have been hired, the largest increase in teacher numbers since the introduction of free education. More than 5,000 primary teachers have been employed to work solely with children with special needs, in addition to the individual supports provided by almost 6,000 special needs assistants. There were fewer than 300 when the rainbow coalition was in government but I suppose the Opposition does not want to make that point.

When asked how he would fund the extra €1 billion for education, Deputy Boyle is reported to have replied that he would make savings in areas such as justice. That is the wrong answer. The policies followed by parties on his side of the House and those on my side are considerably different in that respect. We do not cut spending but increase it by growing the economy. That has been the source of the success we enjoy.

The recent promise by the Labour Party to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 15,000 is somewhat cynical. When the party was last in government, Garda numbers fell. Under the Government, Garda numbers are at an all-time high. The Garda budget for this year is €1.3 billion, twice what it was when it came to power and it will not be cut.

I remind Fine Gael and the Labour Party what happened when they were last in power. They were not tough on crime. The number of gardaí fell during the years the rainbow coalition was in power from 10,800 to 10,700. It failed to provide even one new prison. It supported the cancellation of the prison building programme at a time when almost 20% of sentenced prisoners were on permanent temporary release because of the shortage of prison spaces. It repeatedly opposed legislation which would impose mandatory ten year sentences on substantial drug dealers and deal with serious offences committed by those on bail and voted against legislation which would have allowed persons convicted of serious offences to be subjected to a curfew. When it comes to justice and crime, the words of the Labour Party ring hollow. There is no doubt that the confusion in its policy contributed to the recent reshuffle of the justice portfolio.

The public is right to be tired of politicians who spend their time talking about the process of politics. We want an honest debate about policy alternatives and the best road forward for the country but such a debate is not possible if one side refuses to set out its position. The Opposition has not brought forward any policies. It is the most negative in recent Irish history. It wants us to sit back and allow it to duck all the difficult decisions and is doing everything it can to avoid an honest debate.

I am pleased to support the Government amendment.

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