Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

In the 80 years up to the turn-of-the-century, there were 16 or 17 Governments. The Minister's grandfather was the head of many of them. The Minister's party was in Government for almost all the period in question. Did those Governments fail the people in that they did not give adequate resources to the people who were vulnerable, including pensioners, the unemployed and those requiring child benefit, such that dramatic increases were required between 2000 and 2010? Alternatively, was it the case that the Government bought the people with their own money and now must repay it in multiples? I believe the latter. This is a damning indictment of the policy of the Government. I can still hear the clapping ringing in my ears after the budget in which every benefit was increased. Money was spent as if by drunken sailors and as if there were no tomorrow. Unfortunately, tomorrow is here today and we are suffering because of this policy.

The phenomenon to which I refer is indicated by way of the stark welfare figures but probably more so by the startling figures right across the board. There was a 40% increase in the cost of living and there were increases in welfare. One should not tell me that the Governments in power since the foundation of the State, 12 or 13 of which were Fianna Fáil led, left the people in poverty for 80 years because I do not believe that. What actually happened was that the last few Governments sold the country down the Swanee with its policies.

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