Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister back to the House. Late last year, on one of the previous occasions he was here, we had an excellent debate on the penalty points system. Like Senator Ryan, I will briefly address the rather intemperate outburst by Senator Ross and his astonishing attempt to rewrite history during the first part of his contribution. In his efforts to ingratiate himself with the Government, particularly the Minister for Finance, the Senator fails to draw the attention of the House to the fact that public spending between 2000 and 2002 went completely out of control. When compared to the expenditure of the Government in office between 1995 and 1997, the current level of public finances is abominable. Whereas two years ago we had a budget surplus of nearly €5 billion, in the first three months of this year an additional €1.7 billion had to be borrowed to pay for the various projects the Government is pursuing. From time to time, the Senator's pinpoint economics take a rather selective view of history. He should prepare more comprehensively for debates such as this, rather than making ingratiating statements, as he sometimes does, towards the other side of the House. He could be described as the "Continuity" Fianna Fáil Party sitting on this side of the House. I am sure the Minister is happy to see him in our midst.