Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

It is a pity I do not have several minutes more. Do they know all they need to know before they put these measures in place? They did not know that when they came into the House on 29 September and they have not known it at any time since. More information unfolds from the system as each day goes by. Is the Government capable of extrapolating the information necessary at this vital time for the stability of the economy and finances of this nation? I do not think it is. In such circumstances, the Ministers of State across the floor have a duty to themselves and to the country to stand up and be counted. That applies to all Ministers and Ministers of State, including the invisible Ministers who only come in here when it suits them.

Before it is too late, will the Government please come clean with the full extent of the problem that now faces this country? We should not be drip fed with information, as has occurred in the past three months.

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