Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Before proceeding to Private Members' business, I call on the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, who wishes to make a statement to the House.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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During a Private Members' debate on 5 October 2011, I stated that former Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae voted for the sugar beet factories to be closed. It has since been brought to my attention that the former Deputy did not speak to or vote on the motion.

However, the former Deputy supported the Fianna Fáil Government that voted in the Dáil to introduce austerity measures and brought the country to economic meltdown.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State is apologising on the one hand and criticising on the other.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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He also supported former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the cause of the country's economic meltdown. As former Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae never voted against Bertie Ahern becoming Taoiseach, I also blame him for the economic downturn and for introducing austerity measures.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State should look in the mirror.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Is the former Deputy the reason the Government is making cuts?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The Minister of State can do better than that.