Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Labour Party opposed the bank guarantee, bank recapitalisation and the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank, while Fine Gael supports the guarantee and rejects the Labour Party's call for nationalisation.

The pivotal moment was reached at the end of April when Fine Gael put forward a policy document on the floor of this House, Rebuilding Ireland, which encapsulates its fundamental philosophy and policy. What did its close and abiding potential comrades in the Labour Party do? They abstained. They did so because even Deputy Gilmore can see that the document is like Deputy Kenny himself, strong on padding and rhetoric but weak on substance. It typifies the paucity of specific and realistic proposals coming from the Opposition.

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