Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

It is not difficult to defend because it is about people. It is about building a new Ireland. In her very fine speech today, the Minister stated she wished this was not the way she had to give her first budget. She is correct; none of us entered politics to be the purveyors of bad news or to make tough decisions. It would be great to come here and squander money, like Fianna Fáil did for 14 years, and tell people-----

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