Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I sense a huge dichotomy between the motion presented to us this evening by Fine Gael and the opening contributions of its members. On the surface I cannot disagree with the wording of the motion as I want to see an acceleration of the reform of sectors of our economy. I want the role of the Oireachtas to be respected. I want to ensure vital infrastructure is delivered and the funding required in all levels of the education system and for research and development and IT development is provided.

Senator Twomey's opening contribution was nothing short of a rant. It is nonsense to argue that everything that is economically negative is the fault of the Government. The argument is particularly hard to take from the Fine Gael Party, which covers itself in a veneer of economic competence but has, in opposition, proposed some of the most insane economic policies to feature in political debate. For example, during the general election campaign before last, it proposed compensation for taxi drivers and Eircom shareholders. The joint platform agreed between the Fine Gael and Labour parties prior to the previous general election was predicated on levels of economic growth that were not achievable given the knowledge available at the time. If those parties had found themselves in Government, they would have spent most of their time in office renouncing the programme for Government they presented to the population at the general election. That is an economic fact.

I am the spokesperson for the party which produced the most prudent economic platform at the previous general election, one which anticipated that the rate of economic growth would slow down. However, electoral politics dictated that Fine Gael and the Labour Party were just as likely to work on the basis of bogus economic figures as any other party. The former party's attempt to present current economic conditions in the most negative terms possible must be challenged.