Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

5 o’clock

Deputy Donohoe's reputation is that he is the Minister who dipped down the back of the sofa and found something between €750 million and €1 billion, notwithstanding the information that was given to the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. He lashed out the money. Not alone did that happen, but at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis last week, the Taoiseach was offering tax cuts to everyone, in particular the very well off. We were presented with a Supplementary Estimate earlier of €20 million for the Pope's visit to the Phoenix Park. I say to the Minister, "Come on." He has lashed out the money here, there and everywhere to favoured particular projects. However, he has not been able to do it for public and affordable housing and he has not done it for the Army. He has not bothered to address seriously in his response community employment in respect of which there is a Labour Court recommendation.

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