Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

After pouring €14 billion into a septic bank, the Government has finally realised that Fine Gael was right. The Taoiseach's admission in the House today that the Government was considering winding down Anglo Irish Bank was a welcome announcement. The difficulty is that the €14 billion put into the bank could have created 80,000 jobs in our economy. It has taken the Government 16 months to reach the same conclusion highlighted by the Opposition during that period. For 16 months, the Government could have focused on creating jobs and supporting small businesses instead of maintaining the high lifestyles of developers.

The Government has shored up the builder's bank and those who owe it billions of euro have been living the high life, travelling via business class on sun holidays with their families or popping cases of champagne in London clubs, all on the back of taxpayers' financial pain. They continue to live the high life while being bankrolled by the public, which is struggling to keep up with increased interest rates, rising taxes and cuts in pay and social welfare supports. The Government tells us this pain is necessary to save Anglo Irish Bank, the septic bank.

Last year, while private sector prices fell by 2.5%, Government prices increased by 6.7%. This is unsustainable. It is time that we gave the public a break. Instead of looking to the television licence, accident and emergency charges and leaving and junior certificate students to support the lavish lifestyle of the elite, it is time to give something back to the public. Last week, a hike in school transport fees from €300 per primary school child to €500 was announced. This is anti-rural, anti-family and unsupportive of rural transport.

A reform of the system has been promised for years. As Deputy English stated, this Government is always one report or consultation process away from making a decision, yet Government controlled charges continue to rise and need to be cut in line with wage and social welfare reductions. We are looking to give householders who are struggling to survive €400 into their pockets. Not only would this benefit them, it would also reduce the cost of doing business, improve competitiveness and save jobs. Instead, the Government has neglected the issue.

I am glad the Minister, Deputy Ryan, attended the House, gave us his suggestions and tut-tutted what Fine Gael is doing. Ten years ago, I stood in the Chamber and told the Government that it was about time for it to get its act together where broadband was concerned. Our five broadband networks are owned by five semi-State companies and the Minister has done nothing about bringing them together, working them and sweating those assets in the interests of the taxpayer. We cannot even put the broadband networks on a single map even though the Minister has been in office for three years. His predecessors were sitting on their hands for the preceding ten years. It is time the Government started pulling up its socks. It is time it started focusing on the real issues, namely, the 440,000 people on the dole with nothing to do.

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