Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

An allegation was made in the Dáil that Fianna Fáil Deputies do not read such newspapers. Many of them do. In fact, I even saw Deputy Bannon with a copy of The Economist. The idea that the Labour Party is the intellectual giant of the Dáil and the country is a nonsense that needs to be put on its head. Labour's arrogance is the reason it is not in power and will not be for another generation. That arrogance will not be tolerated on this side of the House, nor will any allegation or insinuation that we are looking after Richie Boucher or that we are friends of the banks. We are not looking after them. Rather, we are putting manners on them.

See this speech in context