P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I have served the people of south-west Cork in politics in this House for more than 25 years. I am a realist and I know we do not have the numbers on this side of the House to force a change but the people opposite have that choice tonight. If it does not happen today, it will happen very soon.

The Government has bankrupted the State and mortgaged its people for decades to come. It has nothing to offer the people - not even an apology - except a litany of excuses about how everybody else is to blame except the first mate who took the captain's role.

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