Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

That is why they are absolutely out of touch and why they will be booted out of office.

Last year, we heard the Minister for Finance tell the House that the budget for 2010 was the harshest budget that would be needed. What has happened is that the Minister and the Government have repeatedly misled the Irish people. If spending cuts were the solution then we would not have a deficit now and we would not have to be back here. We would not have a problem with our public finances. The clear message I want to give today is that there is an alternative and a better way and Sinn Féin has put forward that better way. It is clear, deliverable and costed alternative based on fair taxation, eliminating waste, growing the economy and creating jobs. Our alternative protects the most vulnerable-----

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