Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I went to college with some of them, but I came via a different route and I never lost the sense that as a politician I had a duty to do more than just be a cheerleader for them. We can welcome the fact that they do well, but by goodness we must watch the public interest in what they do.

One of the bankers has become everybody's favourite uncle by giving friendly quotes. Having been rescued by the Minister, Mr. Fitzpatrick suggested that we take the medical card off the old age pensioner, and the Government followed his suggestion.

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