Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Government has run the economy into the ground. The people are waiting outside for the Deputies on the Government side. I would like to say a few things about this House. While the Ceann Comhairle and I have had our differences, I have to say he has been one of the best Chairs during my time in this House. I regularly have to write to the Ceann Comhairle when Ministers and Ministers of State, including the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, refuse to answer Opposition questions that are put to them in this House. We end up having to submit freedom of information requests to get the details we want. Civil servants and Ministers prefer to show the two fingers to democracy and to the Opposition, rather than answer the questions that are asked.

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