Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I have full confidence that the Government can deal with the challenges ahead. Tough decisions will be made and are required to maintain the huge progress we, as an economy, have made in the past 20 years in particular.

If the Opposition and, in particular, the main Opposition party, is interested in economic reform and public service reform, as it tells every journalist it is, it is time it set out its stall, laid down specific proposals in this regard and stopped running away from them when under a bit of pressure.

It would be also interesting to hear if Fine Gael as a party has proposals rather than hearing from specific Deputies who are running off flying individual kites. I support the Government amendment to the motion tabled by the Opposition. I have full faith in the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach to address the challenges ahead. I look forward to 14 October and to hearing Members opposite and, in particular, Deputy Varadkar, setting out their stall.

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