Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Bruton for tabling this motion. Everything he predicted as Fine Gael finance spokesman has come true. I remember several budget nights when we talked about the famous bubble, where an inordinate amount of funding was coming into the Exchequer from one source, the building sector. Everyone knew it would not last.

We must work our way out of this. I lay the blame at the feet of the Government for the way it has handled everything, particularly Anglo Irish Bank. It was an absolute disgrace because the Government did not even know until this morning how much it would cost. We do not know if a further €5 billion must be invested to get out of this black hole.

People glibly talk about unemployment figures going up or down by 5,000. We should consider the impact on every area - unless we get a grip and help the SME sector, there will be problems. Each business might employ an extra one, two or three other people. It is the road to go for recovery but the Government has turned its back on it.

Unemployment has hit homes in every parish in Ireland. In County Galway in August 2008, there were 14,460 unemployed people. In August 2010, the figure was 25,300. In Ballinalsoe in August 2008, there were 1,449 unemployed people and that had increased to 2,759 in August 2010. These are human beings who are stuck at home, drawing the dole they do not want. No matter how the figures are massaged, these are the people we must worry about.

The idea of a national recovery bank must be carefully considered. If people have a good business proposition, they must get the necessary investment. AIB was the bank that most people went to in this country and today we hear that it has almost been taken over the Government. People in every house in Ireland are horrified.

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