Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

Many people, including myself, hold the point of view that what caused our economic crisis was free market policies, a lack of bank regulations, speculation in our financial institutions, low income taxes and the general philosophy of the Progressive Democrats Party and of many Members on the Government benches. These people also wanted privatisation of our public sector. These people were very opposed to the public realm and to the public sector. Unfortunately, those voices are still dominant. I noticed that in yesterday's edition of The Irish Times, Mr. Donal Casey claimed that there was more individualism in Irish society due to social partnership, which I find to be absurd.

We need a more controlled market and better, stronger and a more valued public realm. In that regard, does the Minister agree it is wrong to single out public sector workers for the blame and burden of what happens now in terms of solving our economic crisis? Does he agree we need a strong and valued public sector rather than a weakened, demoralised and decimated public sector?

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