Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Each elected Dáil to this State is charged with great responsibility to this republic. Our republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens and resolves to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and cherish all children equally. Many Dáileanna have been charged with dealing with various crises but no particular Dáil can claim to have been more important than another.

From the well-flagged date of the elections to this Dáil, the enormity of the task faced by the subsequently elected Government was known by all parties and none, as well as the electorate. Our people had been well aware of the gap to be bridged between the State's income and expenditure. Our people had been burdened by measures taken in closing that gap by €6 billion up to last year's budget, bringing the cumulative amount over three or four years to nearly €21 billion of an adjustment. There was a significant onus of responsibility therefore on all parties to be open, honest and forthright with the engagement with the public.

The outgoing Government made available to the then finance spokespersons all relevant accounts and finances of the State for their inspection. Department of Finance officials briefed these spokespersons, including Deputy Noonan of Fine Gael and the Minister, Deputy Burton of the Labour Party. The press reported at the time how ashen faced these persons were having emerged from these briefings and discussions. They had just opposed vehemently, as was their privilege, the recent budget and the recently passed Finance Bill. The language used in those debates could be described as the politics of anger, where damaging remarks, such as the nation being "banjaxed", and allegations of economic treason were made against people. These people had bestowed 150% increases in old-age pensions, 150% increases in social welfare payments and 330% increases in child benefits over many years previously.

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