Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We all knew before 2.30 p.m. yesterday that this budget was not going to be easy. We knew the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and his colleagues in the Government were at pains to condition people about tough but fair choices. Congratulations. The Government achieved the tough part. Unfortunately, it completely failed on the fair part. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said he knows the budget is tough but the problem is he does not seem to understand or be able to do anything about it.

Many of those who voted for Labour in 2011 are ruing their decision today. They voted on the basis of a series of promises. Clearly, the Minister and his colleagues in government have forgotten about those promises. So, permit me to remind the Members opposite with these election pamphlets. "Families Need Labour in Government", "Protect Child Benefit – Vote Labour", "A Cut Too Far – Fine Gael – Every Little Hurts".

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