Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will not rise to that imputation. These issues are covered by the programme for Government. They incorporate the national development plan, Transport 21, the annual Estimates and expenditure. Perhaps at times lobbying by Deputies from any side of the House, whether or not they are Government Deputies, changes the balance of where something goes, but that happens all the time. Some school gets more priority than another, which is what Deputies do here all the time. They ring the Department of Education and Science and they lobby the Department and the Minister. Long may it last, because that is what democracy is all about. I cannot see anything wrong with it. The Deputy himself supports the Government sometimes and it works to his advantage.

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