Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am merely trying to explain the situation. We all accept we must try to get out of the abyss. That is what we were told we were doing on the night we voted for the bank guarantee, but how much worse would the abyss have been? That is why I mentioned Cyprus and the uncaring attitude of this Government, which holds the Presidency of Europe at the moment. The Government does not care about what is happening to the Cypriots, whose private savings are to be robbed. Deputy Rabbitte referred to Fianna Fáil robbing the National Pensions Reserve Fund but his Government imposed a levy of 0.6% on the private pensions of ordinary people. Bankers such as Mr. Richie Boucher are getting away with murder. This Government promised to face up to them but has not done so. It seems that the big guys are escaping and the ordinary people are suffering. The Minister's party was founded in my home town of Clonmel and was supposed to represent ordinary people. It did so, ably, for many decades but now it has abandoned them and left them behind. I have not seen many Labour Party members canvassing in County Meath. They are afraid to meet the people but they will have to meet them. Ordinary people cannot take any more. They cannot afford health insurance, never mind being told to get rid of it. They cannot afford to get sick. The charges for buses have trebled and-----

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