Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I apologise to the Chair. I could not be sure my ears were hearing properly what was coming from the Government benches. We have had a very clear admission from a Deputy that, in his view, the programme for Government is unreasonable. I actually think it is reasonable.

The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, said we cannot do this and spoke of big, bad Europe. However, I understand the Netherlands has done it. The Minister might explain how there is one European rule for the Netherlands and another for bold, bad little Ireland out on the edge. It is important that we start explaining to Europe that we are an island off an island, with a total population of approximately 6 million people. Therefore, the rules that apply in central Europe do not suit in this jurisdiction.

The Minister is right about one thing, namely, I was brought up in Dublin 4. I am very proud of Dublin 4 and I am a good supporter of the Dubs. However, the Minister is wrong about one other thing, which is that because he was brought up in the country, he has a better understanding of the country than I have. I believe that, to a certain extent, those who were brought up in the country often accepted inferior services because that was what was outside the door, whereas growing up in Dublin 4 I presumed there was a telephone, water, sewerage schemes, street lights and that the road was paved. I have to say it was a little bit of a shock when I went to the west to find that it took me a year and a half to get a telephone. In fact, to get a telephone for the business I was running, I had to put the telephone in the lodgings I was staying in - I had a very kind landlady and landlord.

See this speech in context