Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Healy Eames for sharing time with me. We are putting aside €54 billion for the banks, developers and Fianna Fáil, a cosy cartel. The Minister of State, when on "Tonight with Vincent Browne" last night, had an opportunity to apologise to the people for the mistakes made by his Government but he did not do so. Senator Healy Eames is correct that today there are many hard-pressed families in negative equity, who are unemployed and are struggling to pay bills. The hours provided to children with special needs have been cut, as have home help hours, leaving many carers in trouble while this Government continues to live a champagne lifestyle and makes no apology for its actions.

The Tánaiste withheld a report on FÁS for 90 days. Why is that? Banks are knocking on the doors of hard-pressed mortgage holders demanding keys and money. I regret I have only one minute to make my contribution. Where was the control in the growth of public services expenditure? Senator O'Malley spoke about the economic policies of the Progressive Democrats. To borrow an American phrase, we were subject to voodoo economics and are all now paying the cost. Will the Minister of State say who will bail out ordinary citizens who are suffering because of the decisions made by Fianna Fáil in government?