Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I do not know whether the Taoiseach has had the same opportunity as other Deputies in the interludes from this House at weekends to learn from constituents how they feel about the situation unfolding, particularly the first real outworking of the so-called national recovery plan, namely, the budget and the impact it is having already on the lives of ordinary people, along with all the other measure signalled from January to March, etc.

I can share with him, however, my experience of the anger, concern and fear, the emotions most in evidence among the people I have met since the House adjourned last Friday. For them, the so-called national recovery plan is, indeed, a national impoverishment plan so devastating is the effect it will have on their lives. As he has indicated on a number of occasions here that €14.5 billion has been taken out of the economy over the past two years, how does the Taoiseach rationalise that taking another €15 billion out of the real economy over the next few years will make a difference when the first €14.5 billion clearly has not impacted in any way in terms of turning the tide? How is it that by doubling that figure and taking another €15 billion out of the economy we are going to see a change, because none is evident? Unemployment remains at a very high level and emigration is growing - hence the impact on the live register - in addition to the bank deficit debacle and the range of other issues presenting at this time. None of this is being corrected, it seems, by any of the measures that have been taken so far. How does the so-called national recovery plan impact in relation to the programme for Government? What are the Taoiseach's views of the comments this morning on "Morning Ireland" by the Minister for Finance when he talked about silly post-election political programmes? In my view and that of many listeners, he was referring to the Fianna Fáil-Green Party programme for Government after the last election. Does the Taoiseach agree with the Minister that these were silly programmes?

See this speech in context