Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The purchasing power of the consumer is diminishing. The motion is timely and I congratulate the Labour Party on tabling it. We must have action rather than soundbites from the Government and not indifference to the people who are being forced to pay more. It is not their fault we are in a recession. They did not blow the boom and squander billions of euro in Exchequer surpluses. The Government splurged and the gnáth-dhuine, the ordinary person, must bail it out. That is not good enough.