Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the Estimates. It is a mere formality because we did not really have an opportunity to tease out the detail of all the departmental programmes. Even if we had, it would probably have been rather pointless because the Government, as usual, would not have listened to us in any event. However, the debate does confirm for us the Government's continuing two-pronged approach to the economic crisis we are facing. On the one hand, it involves, as a top priority, bailing out the banks regardless of the cost, be it to the tune of €440 billion or whatever it takes. On the other hand, it involves cutbacks for those who can least afford them. The latter include pensioners and others who have had their Christmas bonuses cut. Key public services for such people have been cut right across the board and some of these are the subject of debate before the House at present. This is the Government's strategy to date and it needs to change.

Many economists have cautioned against this approach. The Minister has obviously been reading their remarks.

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