Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

Yesterday I spoke about the need for fairness and equity in any decisions taken by the Government to address the current economic difficulties. I regret that the measures announced yesterday were neither fair nor equitable. In a radio interview this morning, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, certainly could be said to have refused to apologise for the Government's role in the current difficulties through its mishandling of the economy. It is a feature of the current debate that there has been no apology from the Government for its role in creating the economic crisis.