Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)

It is easy to blame someone else for one's mistakes but we should remember that less than two years ago we were one of the wealthiest countries in the world. What went wrong? How could a small country like ours fall so hard so fast in such a short time?

I listened yesterday to the debate and it struck me that everybody now appears to be singing off the same hymn sheet. We are in a crisis but the crisis was not made by the men and women who have lost their jobs in recent months or the less well off. It was made by this Government.

There are two reasons this small country of ours is in crisis, the first of which is greed. I am taken aback by the Minister of State's laughter. I heard in disbelief yesterday about the amount of money paid to bankers and top executives — money people in communities would never see in their lifetime. That money was paid out with no reason or accountability.

Some Deputies in the debate last night said how sorry they were about the thousands of jobs that have been lost. Saying sorry is not good enough, particularly for the family living beside me with two young children. The mother has lost her job. The father has been put on a three day week and they are left with a mortgage of €530,000.

This Government spent and spent without thinking of the rainy day. Money has been poured into projects where bricks and mortar were more important than human life or communities, and developers became rich. The Government spent as if there was no tomorrow but tomorrow has come. Most housewives know that they can only spend what is in their purse and when that is gone they have nothing else and they are in trouble.

Deputy Kennedy said earlier that the Opposition should come up with ideas. The Opposition has been coming up with ideas for the past few months. Deputies Bruton, Coveney and many other members of Fine Gael have brought various motions to the floor of this Chamber and all of them were rejected, even the one last night. It is about time the Government listened to the Opposition if it wants to know how we can get out of this crisis.

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