Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Tenants suffered in places like Mayo.

Reference has been made to various incentives. A Deputy on the other side of the House was right to say that the former Minister, Charlie McCreevy, claims credit for the seaside resorts scheme. However, it was Deputy Kenny, as Minister for Tourism and Trade, who introduced the scheme. I suggest that it was one of the less satisfactory property incentive schemes, even on its own terms. It worked well in Westport, to be fair, but it was not particularly good in many other seaside towns. I was amused by the reference in the Minister's speech last night to lobbying for tax relief for medical centres. When I was lobbied on that issue, I said a firm "No". Apart from anything else, those in the medical profession, who are among the better paid in society, are well capable of funding health centres themselves.

Although counter-cyclical budgets could have helped to moderate the boom, the introduction of such budgets would mark a significant cultural shift on the part of all parties in this House and all Governments. Governments are advised to act in a strongly counter-cyclical manner the next time the economy begins to party, to use the terminology of the report. That may be some years away. We all know that when there are ample revenues in the Exchequer, substantial pressure is put on the Government of the day to spend them. That is what I mean when I say we need to internalise the lessons of these reports.

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