Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State should go back to the former Tánaiste and tell her to forget co-location and public private partnership in health. We should have universality and equal access for all our citizens.

We have heard a great mantra from Government about millionaires, but public servants such as gardaí and teachers are not millionaires and we should not penalise them. Some people are fearful of making decisions on their health as a consequences of the budget. Senator Frances Fitzgerald was correct this morning in stating that this is contradictory legislation. We are talking about quality of life.

I go back to the mantra from Fianna Fáil about the budgetary increases in pensions. What about inflation and the cost of living? What about the cost of health care? It has all spiralled upwards under Fianna Fáil. We are saying to our elderly citizens that the Government does not care about them; it got the votes, so good luck to them. The Progressive Democrats are a failed political ideology heading off to the sunset.

We should have a bit of realism and show respect for our people. What are the real savings? The Government has not answered the question.