Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We do not know what the level of growth will be. Other figures will be published by the Department. I know what Fianna Fáil, the media and the Government are doing. They are trying to spread the blame game. They want people to believe we are all the same so that when the election takes place, they can compare what the Government has done with what Fine Gael and the Labour Party proposed in their pre-budget estimates.

I know this country is in a serious position. Like every citizen in the State, I want to get this country back to where it was. We want to get our people working. We want to give a bit of hope, create a bit of employment and get rid of the depression that exists at present. People are frightened out of their lives about the proposals that are coming down the tracks. As my party's spokesman on social protection, I want to make sure those who did not cause the mess we are facing are not penalised most. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, to ensure marginalised people who need to be protected are protected. They did not create the problem.

The Government should go after the bankers and their wives, who have billions of euro. They are enjoying themselves in the sun, reading newspapers and drinking wine and champagne. We are doing nothing about it. We need a few bankers to go to jail to show there is law and order in this country.

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