Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I will not mention them again. The €1,000 baby bond scheme came from a party that was led by Proinsias De Rossa, former president of the Labour Party, former leader of the Workers Party and former leader of Sinn Féin the Workers Party. When he was the Minister for Social Welfare, he gave the smallest increase ever for babies in Ireland. Yet the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, is giving €1,000 every few months to people. I am aware of a case recently involving a couple who had twins and the Minister gave them €2,500 for a few months as well as an incentive for the twins. The leader of the Labour Party has suggesting giving €1,000 for 18 years. Is he mad? The poor fellow has run out of ideas. The scheme must have been devised by some of the accountants in Enron. It reminds me of the £9.70 that the former Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, promised to women who stayed at home. The Cathaoirleach is smiling — he would remember it. Fianna Fáil created jobs for people at home who wanted jobs. There are jobs for everyone. He even reneged on the £9.70.