Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I, too, welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Government, which is making the right decisions. It is sorting out the public finances ahead of nearly every other country in the eurozone and rectifying the mistakes of the past, including taking measures to ensure strong banking regulation. The Green Party insisted that a person from outside the State be appointed to the position of Financial Regulator. We are also reforming the planning system, restoring competitiveness and increasing energy security.

The Government is making decisions of increasing importance to competitiveness and clean energy security. It is also increasing fairness and equality and environmental protection. The Green Party will continue to support the Taoiseach and remain in the Government for as long as such decisions are being made and important, sustainable policies are being implemented. Any self-respecting politician enters politics to have his or her policies implemented. This is what the Green Party is doing.

Not only is the Government implementing policies which are sustainable, we are ensuring that we undo the untold damage done by Opposition councillors over the years. For years, I sat on a local authority-----

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