Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In debates such as this we get an interesting insight into some of the completely shallow and ill-informed analysis we receive from Government backbenchers, and we have had such a contribution served up to us again this evening. They should go away and read and research a little more and look into their own hearts and the contribution they made to the situation we are debating. If we are to discuss the housing bubble, we should mention we had reckless lending, reckless borrowing, poor regulation, poor political oversight and a political auction from all of the political parties to narrow the tax base. Deputy Rabbitte wanted to introduce an 18% lower rate of tax during the 2007 general election. We had this race to the bottom, in which the Government parties were happy to partake. They avoided political debate on it at the time.

One point which always conveniently forgotten by the Government parties, but which was put right by the people last May in the local elections, is that for the previous ten or 15 years, until last May, Fine Gael and the Labour Party dominated and controlled most of the local authorities throughout Ireland.

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