John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I agree with Deputy Ó Snodaigh that ordinarily the party in which the vacancy arises moves the writ and when the Fine Gael Party moved the writ for the Waterford by-election, I questioned why it did not move the writ for this by-election.

Comments were made about the Government's programme and policies and it was stated the programme we are implementing was not in the election manifesto for 2007 but no party has the same policies. The reality is the focus of the Government is to react and respond to the changed economic times. We have done that and will continue to do so.

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