Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I have a question for the Leader. On foot of that property bubble, taxes on construction and housing related economic activities rose from 6% in 2001 to 20% in 2006. That was unsustainable. The Taoiseach, as Minister for Finance in 2006, said property prices were anchored on sound fundamentals in the Irish economy. If we do not analyse and diagnose, and if the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance are not prepared to face the facts and properly diagnose the problems in the economy, they will not be able to steer this economy out of the recession that is staring us straight in the face. I ask the Leader to address that question.