Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

While the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance may be happy with yesterday's Exchequer figures, it is extremely bad housekeeping to have money in the bank while appalling conditions exist in the community. It would take €5 million to open the new section of James Connolly Memorial Hospital and a considerable sum to build the metro. It took me one hour and 50 minutes to travel ten miles this morning. A member of the Leinster House staff travelling to work from Darndale told me the journey took her two hours this morning. A housewife would not leave money in her pocket if her children were in need of certain facilities or services. The Taoiseach is in a similar position to a housekeeper and is doing a very poor job. While so many facilities are in dire need of money, he keeps the money in his pocket.