Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I am delighted to contribute to this debate. I am also delighted that Archbishop Ryan has stayed in the pews to listen to us mere mortals, having delivered his sermon on the mount earlier. The Government needs to show more humility than it has to date in this debate.

The very first thing we need is some straight talking, rather than sermonising or fascinating lectures from mushrooms and the like. We need to cut out the spin machine so regularly deployed by this Government. Above all else this Administration, if it is to be taken seriously again by the Irish people, needs to show some humility instead of the arrogant swagger and cockiness that are such hallmarks of Fianna Fáil's years in office.

We are in an era of cutbacks; so let us call it as it is. I note the Minister is shaking his head again. His Government announced cutbacks today and yesterday and the Minister will not even be honest with the people. I believe, taking from the sermon from Archbishop Ryan, that we need a new honesty in this debate. We need to be straight with each other so let us call it as it is and stop the baloney in which the Minister and his Administration are involved.

See this speech in context