Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

The Fine Gael Deputies and councillors cannot have it both ways. They cannot say they want more money spent when their finance spokesperson and deputy leader criticises us in the Dáil for spending too much money over the years. The people know the tricks they are playing.

The Government has done a fantastic job. It established the National Pensions Reserve Fund despite some criticism for doing so. We now have the scope to borrow and maintain our position. The Government has responsibility for managing the public services and creating the environment in which people can work. Low taxes have been a feature of that environment for individuals and businesses and they allow people to get on with what they want to do. We could not be in a better position to get through the unprecedented global economic downturn. We can afford to borrow a certain amount of money to get us over the slight difficulty in which we find ourselves. We will either swim or sink with international exports and foreign direct investment, which is very important. We need to put our best foot forward at home and abroad, which is what Ministers and IDA Ireland with other agencies have been doing with great success in recent years. Fine Gael is trying to diminish this effort with what it has done regarding pairing.

The national pay agreement has been criticised in various quarters. However, it gives people confidence that Irish industrial relations are peaceful and that people can invest in Ireland without the threat of industrial relations bringing everything to a halt.

Regardless of the economic reality that house prices may fall, homeowners in my constituency would be surprised by Fine Gael calling for house prices to fall, as its motion does. It calls for house prices to return to fair values. While we know it is an economic reality, making that political call is unprecedented. People who suffer from negative equity will look for more than a call for house prices to be reduced. We do not yet have a large number of repossessions, which may well come. Action would need to be taken if that becomes a serious problem. While I know of some in my constituency, they are not yet at the crisis level that would affect a broad range of people, as they are in some parts of the United States.

We need to put our best foot forward despite the Opposition. We need to continue these policies. While we need to cut back, we do not need to slam on the brakes. We need to keep rolling along, borrow as much as we need and set the country up right for when things turn internationally, as they will. I believe the people will thank us for it when the turnaround comes.

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