Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I wish to share time with Deputy Connolly.

The National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, was successful at managing the national debt, a fact no one disputes. However, the fact that this agency takes responsibility for carbon credits and this is not connected to ecological concerns demonstrates that it is seen as an economic matter rather than an ecological one.

We are taking the easy option by buying our way out of responsibility in the short term. It will cost us a fortune in the medium term if this approach continues. We are dipping into the pockets of the taxpayer rather than taking the lead. The public is far ahead on this matter but still requires leadership. I recall a profound statement to the effect that leadership is about delivering loss. There was an opportunity to accept this loss because the public is genuinely concerned with the survival of the planet. We can do much better than this and we should give the lead to the developing world rather than using it as a crutch. The row over a paltry 200 buses that were to be delivered late last year and early this year ended with 100 postponed until a later date. One would not think Ireland had a major transport crisis. We are also needlessly emitting major amounts of carbon. We could do better and this demonstrates the lack of connection between the Government's policies and its delivery of these policies.

The situation regarding the concrete block industry is similar. It was bailed out at the expense of the unfortunate homeowners who will not have the required standards. It will cost these people more to heat their homes and the houses will be worth less in the future because they will not meet the required standard. It was a shameful decision to bail out the industry. The "O Lord, help me to be pure but not yet" approach was taken in delivering the Government's policy.

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