Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The first sentence of this evening's motion commends the Government for its prudent handling of the public finances. Senators on the Government side have a cheek to suggest this after the Punchestown debacle when €15 million was spent in the Minister for Finance's constituency and proper regulations and procedures were abandoned. Where was the Progressive Democrats, the so-called guardians of the public purse, in this regard? Where was openness and transparency on this matter? The Progressive Democrats sat like church mice and we did not hear a word from them. Perhaps we will hear from them during the course of this debate.

A Government should be judged on how it treats the poor and the weakest sections of society. In this regard, the Government has failed miserably. While conferring tax breaks on the rich and influential friends of the Government, it attacks the poor through the savage 16 social welfare cuts. The Government has also hit people on the margins and the middle classes with more than 27 extra stealth taxes. Senator Mansergh may not want to hear about stealth taxes. He does not believe they are stealth taxes.