John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

It provides the Taoiseach with the appropriate framework to deal with those positions as he pleases. It is a sign of co-operation and what we need to do in terms of understanding the economy with which we are now dealing. There is a need for reform of structures within Government to deal with the issues that face us today in a very different way from before. We had 12 years of sound economic development. We are now part of a global downturn. It is good for us to look at the way we do our business. The media have also indicated that we are lobbying hard for our positions. That is not the case. The decision will be made and will be made without that. Of course Deputy Kenny omitted a number of the other quotations from the interview I gave, which perhaps would have put it in context. It shows how far or little we have travelled in terms of our attitudes in this House to what goes on and what comments are made. I like to tell it as it is. I like to give my own view and be honest with the electorate. If that view brings in an act of contrition or a U-turn for something that we have done or have not done, I do not see anything wrong with that.

In that interview I said: "This budget is not so much about the two Brians. It is about Ireland. It is about this country. It is about where we're going and it will be a defining moment for the economy." I went on to say: "We have to impress those that will give us money that we're not a basket case". If Deputy Kenny were to be fair politically, as I asked him after he made the comments, he would have put it in context. However, he was too quick to respond to a text message from my constituency, from what he described as his "communications unit". Enough of that.

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