Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I wish to mention outgoing Minister Deputy Roche briefly. Fianna Fáil's focus groups stated that he needed to be off the air during the election campaign, but the Deputy went out and batted for the Government when it was at its most unpopular. He took the hit for the Government's unpopularity in the months leading up to the election. It is a sad day for County Wicklow, as Deputy Roche had done a half day's work before the rest of the Government got out of bed. The Taoiseach should reconsider his position during the mid-term review.

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