Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, but his position rings extremely hollow coming from a Fianna Fáil person, knowing the way Fianna Fáil has always operated in opposition. Somebody once observed that when people say, "It is not about the money", the one thing one can be sure of is that it is about the money. Similarly, when someone in Fianna Fáil says, "It is a matter of principle", the one thing one can be sure of is that it is not a matter of principle. This has to do with greed and self-preservation, and, in this instance, a lethal disconnection between a government and the people it is supposed to serve. With the Government it is all about "us" and "them", with the "them" category occupied by the citizens of the State. The citizen can be punished for crimes for which he or she was not responsible, impoverished using one levy after another and frightened, humiliated or left uninformed. Citizens and public sector employees have had their salaries reduced for the first time in the history of the State. That is the "them" side of the equation. The "us" side of the equation is very different. The Fianna Fáil Party and its meek partners in government do not understand that the essence of good leadership is to take the same pain everybody else is taking.

The current sad episode in Irish politics has been characterised by an unprecedented level of uncaring arrogance on the part of some former Ministers. While Deputy Jim McDaid is the most vocal of them, he also speaks for others who have not surrendered their pensions. I am informed the Deputy is an excellent and professional general practitioner. I do not have any confidence in his professionalism as a Deputy.

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