Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I do not think any Deputy who is in discussions with the Government is either naive or silly. People want to see projects in the national development plan, Transport 21 or the multi-annual capital and current programmes implemented. Deputy Rabbitte knows that while those projects are spread over a seven-year period, people will want to prioritise them, as every Member on my own side and the Opposition side would want to do. That is what people fight and negotiate for. One should not pretend that everything in the national plan will be implemented seriatim and easily without people fighting their corner or making a case for favourite projects. That is something that happens every day.

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