Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What he fails to note is we were under an IMF programme. The State was spending 50% more than it was taking in income. We were locked out of the markets. Any borrowing was as high as 14%. Two local authorities in Dublin and the local authority in Westmeath were piloting the mortgage-to-rent scheme because we were saturated with debt in our local authorities. The Deputy ignores all of this when he speaks about the period 2009 to 2012, inclusive. This is one of the core underscores of the crisis. The State did not have the capacity to deliver but it does now and it is delivering with that record budget for the Department.

I did not quote the ESRI, the Deputy did. When it comes to property tax and raising money in the State, the Deputy takes the populous route. He does not look at it and he walks away from it. It is a progressive tax. When it comes to carbon tax and protecting our environment, the Deputy will not look at it. He walks away again. He speaks about restrictions day in and day out and banning travel into our country but he will not vote to extend the emergency provisions. The hypocritical stances of many Deputies we have seen in the House over the past ten days are incredible.

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