Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I wish well those involved in the social partnership talks. For obvious reasons, we hope there will be a good outcome.

In the 30 years during which I have been a Member of the Oireachtas, I have never seen such mishandling of an economy as I have seen this year. The social unrest we notice throughout the country today emanated from this House when the budget was brought forward to October. If ever the seeds of unrest were sown, it was on that day. I do not want to go over old ground; suffice it to say that on the announcement of the budget the Government believed a 1% levy should apply to a person earning €18,000 as much as it should apply to a person earning €99,000. We discovered the proposals for medical cards and found out the elderly just would not accept that carry-on. This unrest has permeated throughout society and people are now woefully frightened as to their futures. This is bad news for the Government and for us all. The Government took the credit for the good times and is now trying to place responsibility for the bad times on everybody else except itself.

The bank culture in Ireland is nothing short of disgraceful. When the Government recapitalises the banks and when €5 billion of hardworking taxpayers' money is pumped into them, the sort of carry-on we had to accept on the part of corporate bankers must come to an end. They must not be allowed to carry on as they were doing, as if they were gods. How dare any bank or bank manager not give every opportunity to those who are finding it hard to pay their mortgages to work their way out of their difficulties? There is no sign of a change in the banking culture. I know of several people who still had to approach banks on bended knees. I can only hope the people the Minister puts into the boardrooms will show, for once in our lives, that democracy, rather than the banks, runs the country.

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