John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

-----and built new hospitals and schools. Before it is shouted from across the floor, we purchased electronic voting machines, which I fully accept. However, that is pretty minuscule in the overall context. As I said at the outset, Governments make mistakes. They are not infallible; they take the best advice at any given time and do not have the benefit of hindsight.

We must make tough decisions as did the British and the Greeks. Other countries will have to do likewise. We have made tough decisions. While we are far from being out of the woods, with co-operation and support from all sides, we can move forward and ensure we return to growth during the next couple of years.

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