Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Very well. I have many more pages to read as there is so much more I could say. I believe the Minister knows in his heart that the cuts he has implemented are wrong. I heard him speak of the €100 million he may be obliged to cut and how he is fighting to lessen that amount. The Minister is an intelligent man and knows this is absolutely crazy stuff. During a recession and private sector contraction, the role of the Government is to invest, particularly in the education system, to ensure that people can prepare for when the upturn comes, as well as investing in infrastructure. These measures are established rules of thumb and the Minister is aware that what is happening at present does not make sense. As I always point out in such debates, I do not presume that Sinn Féin has a monopoly over decency. What is happening, however, is indecent, is wrong and does not make sense. At some point, I hope the Labour Party recovers its soul and fights to stop this in government.

See this speech in context