Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)

We appear to have come to a new crossroads in the Dáil with the reference of certain Fianna Fáil Members to bringing out the Pontius Pilate bowl of water and white towel followed by Deputy Twomey's mention of some Opposition Deputies turban-wearing and basket-carrying running through the Dáil in a crusade for the septic tank. I welcome the opportunity to speak.

I take issue with what Deputy Browne said. He said that it has long been the tradition in this House for this side to propose and for the other side to oppose. However, the other side should not oppose this time because the reason this side is bringing in these measures is that those on the other side caused it. It will be interesting to see what the Fianna Fáil Members do when we vote on the Bill. While the Bill contains many measures that will be very difficult for families, they are necessary because of the 14 years of neglect during which the party of Deputies Browne and Dooley drove the economy into tatters, to use Deputy Dooley's words.

The Bill contains many good provisions and the Fianna Fáil Deputies who have now left the Chamber were very slow to acknowledge that the Government has not increased income tax, that more than 300,000 people have been taken out of the universal social charge net and that for the first time there is a concerted effort, as recently announced by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, to assign responsibilities to Departments to deliver on targets. This is not like the type of document that was launched in the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham by a former Taoiseach with great media fanfare where all the Deputies from a certain party were called in, the trough was opened, all the snouts went in and they had a great party. This is a working, living document with targets to be set and measured. The Government will be rated based on the implementation of the targets. Of course, we are only in this situation because of the neglect of many years.

Deputy Twomey is correct. The change for people, who bought their houses between 2004 and 2008 and found themselves in negative equity, is recognition by the Government that those people were innocent parties. Certain politicians, bankers, auctioneers and unscrupulous landowners inflated the property bubble to the point that it blew up in all our faces. It is very easy to suggest not paying back any bondholders or any bank debt by claiming that it is not our problem. It is our problem and has been since we guaranteed all the past, present and future debts of the banks and since we guaranteed all the past, present and future deposits of the banks. This is our sovereign debt and we need to pay it back.

We also need a realisation that we are in a very difficult situation. We are taking in €30 billion and spending €50 billion. We cannot continue down that road indefinitely. Even if there had never been a banking problem in the country, we could not continue to borrow at the present rate. We are borrowing €76 for every man woman and child per week. While I know people find the €5 septic tank charge and the €100 household charge difficult, how can we continue to borrow €76 per week per individual ad infinitum? That is not sustainable and we need to call a halt to it.

While it is difficult and painful, unfortunately the only way to do so is to rein in public expenditure. Every time we take €1 out of public circulation we either affect a service or affect an individual. By taking €4 billion out of circulation we will affect an enormous number of people. We were not elected into Government to flunk these decisions nor were we elected for some sort of popularity contest. When we campaigned during the general election everybody told us to fix the country. It is not possible to fix the country without affecting individuals. While that is very difficult, the Government must continue to be fair. The vulnerable people who are dependent on State services must be prioritised at every turn of the road. I welcome the measures in the budget and the Finance Bill that will implement them. I commend the Bill to the House.

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