Michael Mulcahy (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

Whatever its cause, we were running surpluses. It has always been the intention of any Fianna Fáil-led Administration that we would adhere to that maximum 3% budget deficit requirement at all times.

The leader of the Labour Party was happy to accuse the Taoiseach of treason. I would suggest that history will judge very harshly all those politicians who, for naked political gain, have impeded the Government in its very important work of reducing the public deficit and bringing our finance into balance. Perhaps it is some Members of the Opposition who should hold the mirror of patriotism up to their own faces and see if they can recognise a noble reflection in it.

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