Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Before speaking on the amendment, I wish to make a point about the budget which I believe is important. On budget night, it is a tradition that the Departments of Social Protection and Finance produce fact sheets on the budget. All of the politics is contained in the budget speech of the Minister for Finance and then we receive the fact sheets and find out what exactly is the situation. I must state that what is supposed to be a fact sheet, which we received on Tuesday night from the Department of Finance, is a disgrace. No longer is it a fact sheet, it is a piece of propaganda. It is political propaganda. This is a really retrograde step by the Department of Finance. It is important to point out lest anybody is under the wrong impression that Fianna Fáil is not the State; there is a difference between the State and Fianna Fáil and everybody needs to be clear about this, particularly our public servants. The Department of Finance needs to be clear that there is a difference between Fianna Fáil and the State. If we are promised a fact sheet-----

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