Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I am always brief, a Chathaoirligh. I never say in ten words what I can say in two. It amazed me when I heard Senator Norris stating that he advised the Minister for Finance to tear up all his election promises. The Minister obviously listened to Senator Norris because the election manifesto has been torn to shreds and no promises have been honoured. I was also amazed to hear ill-informed attacks on the Opposition from Senators Ross and Quinn while they preached financial rectitude. It is the current Government who has been in office for the past five years, squandered €4.8 billion of a surplus created by the efforts of all sections of this economy and mismanaged the economy to such an extent that we are faced with cutbacks that will affect every citizen, especially the vulnerable, disadvantaged and young couples trying to put a roof over their heads. The Minister may feel that €3,800 is an insignificant amount but many young couples who have budgeted for it now have the ground swept from under them.

Regarding the economic and social infrastructure programme to which the Minister referred, the National Roads Authority has stated that the money is not available to complete the inter-urban routes or motorways between the gateway cities and Dublin. In 1997 the Minister inherited a sound financial platform any Minister would be delighted to have. Five years later and after a period of unprecedented growth in the economy, we are in a much poorer state than when the Minister came to office.