James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I think manners could be afforded to me when speaking.

The Book of Estimates published last Thursday proves that the people have been duped by a deliberately orchestrated campaign of lies and deceit. The sick, the disabled, the less well-off, young people, those on community employment schemes, students, farmers, PAYE workers and the unemployed are all suffering the consequences. In addition, the Minister for Finance is putting a cap on the health board rent allowance, which is payable to the least well-off tenants. This is another deliberate attack on the marginalised in society. Potential home buyers who attended my clinics over the week were in a state of shock. They were sickened by the Government and the guillotine method by which the Minister axed the first-time buyer's grant. The deliberate targeting of the most vulnerable in our society is an indictment of the Government which vowed in May of this year that there would be no cutbacks.

Last Thursday was a very wet day, but it was also a dark day for first-time buyers and for the people. We were told that less than €38 million would be gained from this initiative. We are now paying for the cock-ups of the last three budgets. The Minister miscalculated the tax returns of the State, recklessly squandered the taxes and gains of the good years, and is now grabbing at every straw to survive. He shamefully mismanaged our taxes and is now recouping his losses from the weakest sections of the society. The Government must be toppled before it is too late. It went back to the electorate on the Nice treaty referendum. I call on it to go back to the people with the truth. The people have lost confidence and trust in it. We now even have Government backbenchers accusing the Government of pursuing Thatcherite policies and they are probably right. I understand plans to introduce a local poll tax are just around the corner.

If allowed to remain in government, Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats will destroy the economy and our country's future. Our standing in Europe and the rest of the world will be greatly undermined and confidence will be lost in our supposedly strong economy. I ask the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat Members of the House not to be hypocrites. They should support the motion.