Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

——across the period when the Progressive Democrats were in the last Administration, it lost sight of the manifesto which underpinned its existence. The Progressive Democrats talked about the need for reform in Government, yet this was the party that set up the Health Service Executive. It talked about the need for restraint in public spending. In 1997 we were spending €22 billion, while last year it was €56 billion, and we are still here talking about the different social difficulties we have and all the problems the economy faces.