Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

This week and for the past nine months, there has been a steady escalation in the amount of praise which the Government has lavished on itself. In this process we are getting to the stage where words such as "reform"', "radical"', "fairness"' and "job creation" are being reduced to a level of Orwellian news speak.

In area after area, supposed "proof" of the Government's effectiveness is based on manipulating baselines and brazen exaggeration. For example, 80% of the cuts in ministerial pay and 90% of the reduction in public service numbers being cited by the Government were in place before it took up office.

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