Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

-----and individual investors in Eircom were to be allowed to offset their losses. In 2007 the Labour Party promised that the broad macro-economic outlook for the Irish economy was positive. It was going to reduce the standard rate of tax from 20% to 18% and to abolish means testing for carers. Again, these were more promises. While the memory of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, who is not here today, may be fading on what his party promised in previous elections, ours certainly is not. The electorate has spoken and the Government parties have received a very strong mandate based on their election manifestos and promises.

Earlier this week we saw many of these promises totally and utterly smashed. Why have the proposed cuts in disability allowance payments only been paused? What is delaying the Government from saying it will not proceed with these plans and that they are dropped? Why does it need to refer it to some review committee? We had all the kites that were flown in the past six weeks and Ministers lurking around the corridors waiting to meet journalists to give them what they were leaking might come down the tracks. I could go on about different promises that have been broken.

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