Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Deputy Gilmore dealt with the role of Fianna Fáil in contributing to the state the country is in, but there is another party in Government. It is called the Green Party and before I forget it, I want to say a word or two about its contribution. When I left the Chamber last night, I was struck by an interview I caught almost accidentally by the deputy leader of the Green Party, Deputy Mary Alexendra White. When asked she said she was very happy about the budget. She said it had green fingerprints all over it and that there had been delivery on Dáil reform. I was struck by that because nobody on the opposite benches said they were very happy about the budget. Even the Taoiseach acknowledged on television that there was serious hardship and he took no pleasure in it. He had a demeanour which could not be worse if Clara lost the county championship.

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