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

There were other issues last night that Sinn Féin could have addressed, but it did not do so. We will not go there. Careful management of this country is now required. I remind the House and especially the sole Deputy sitting on the Opposition benches that when the former Minister, Deputy Quinn, left office in 1997, the books were balanced and everything on the record was in order. Every single economic indicator was right. Along with his colleagues in the outgoing Government at that time, he was blamed for not spending more money to buy the 1997 general election. Elections were bought subsequently by people who spent money unwisely and created expectations that were above and beyond the ability of this country to deliver on them. If there is anybody here now who believes we should take that course again, they should stand up and say how they are going to do it. I know it cannot be done. I compliment the Government on their efforts to date. I hope they can continue to run the country effectively, efficiently, fairly and in a balanced way without selling it and its people down the drain for repayments at a later stage. I hope all the hard work that has been done so far will be rewarded. I hope the people who made all the sacrifices so far will be rewarded in the time ahead in the way they should be and expect to be. It cannot all come at one time, but the intention is there. It will happen as long as we manage our finances carefully.

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