Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

Reference was made to the property boom. We had a high stamp duty rate, particularly at the higher levels, which was again complained about by our friends in the Sunday Independent. People wanted to lower or abolish them but that would not have been a cure for the property boom.

Deputy McEntee correctly mentioned the more upbeat mood in the agriculture industry. This has been a better year for farmers. I met a veterinarian recently who said that, for the first time in three years, his bills are being paid. Deputy O'Mahony spoke about a five year old worrying about whether he would have to emigrate. I have a daughter who spoke in her teenage years of emigrating, but she is working in Ireland. These things go around in cycles. The Deputy claims to have no faith in this Government, but I am not sure there is much faith in the alternatives either. To some extent, we are all in the same boat and we have to recapture the faith of the electorate.

Language like "sold out to the EU and the IMF" is very irresponsible and emotive. These are not our enemies. We will need the help of our friends and partners in Europe and the IMF. The director general of the IMF is not a hard right neoliberal, but a French socialist who is rumoured to be a possible candidate for the next presidential elections. Deputy O'Mahony referred to "squandermania", but putting aside €25 billion in the National Pensions Reserve Fund is not "squandermania" by my standards.

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