Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no need to pretend it did not happen. Others in the Opposition have similarly failed to face up to their responsibilities. I congratulate the Minister for Social Protection for doing an extraordinarily difficult job. She will be the first to accept that people have been hurt. She has been in this House for a good number of years. It is an appalling situation. I ask those on the other side who are cynical what they would have done if they were in her position. One speaker said he would introduce a wealth tax. I am amused by some of the proposals that have come from the benches opposite. Their budgetary predictions were based on everything remaining constant.

See this speech in context