Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Our proposal on health care is not fantasy. A similar approach is being delivered successfully in the Netherlands and such a model can be delivered here. My party has also made proposals on job creation with the NewERA policy, on which Government members have taken a cynical position. Last night on "Questions and Answers", for instance, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, deliberately misinterpreted the proposal by arguing it would result in the creation of a new set of quangos. Are the ESB and Bord Gáis quangos? Our proposal would result in the establishment of new State companies. In response to well thought-out, costed and good policy ideas, the Fianna Fáil Party chooses to spin the truth, giving us a flavour of what we can expect from it in opposition.

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