Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

We are a location of real skill, with large international companies here where leading research is being carried out and supported by our research institutions. We can combine that with what the likes of our energy companies are doing, such as what the ESB is doing in terms of a smart grid and electric vehicles. We can combine it with our software companies and build up a centre of excellence in the country around energy efficiency technologies and then sell this to the rest of the world. This is happening. That is the reason I have confidence in our ability in Government to deliver the jobs needed to provide the social services mentioned by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan and others.

It is for these reasons that I will support the Government rather than the Opposition. The Opposition can say nothing except repeat the clichés that drive fear into the people. It repeats that we are bailing out the banks, but does not say what it would do. It says on the one hand that we cannot make cuts and on the other that we cannot impose further taxes. The country can have no confidence in those solutions or that Fine Gael would do the right thing in these most difficult times to lead Ireland out of its difficulties and pay off the debts we have built up over the past 20 years. We must set ourselves on a green sustainable future. That is the best future for our country.

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