Alex White (Labour)

Listening to Senator Boyle it struck me, as it has often struck me while listening to speakers from the Government side, that if the Government were to be more realistic and less robust about some of the claims it makes on the impact of some of its policies, its expectation that critics would temper what may be exaggerated criticism would be easier to accept. I say to Senator Boyle, that there are problems on all sides of the argument. The Minister might reasonably say with Senator Boyle's support that the critics always go for the worst case scenario. Even in the economic context, the Minister's speech tonight contained claims, which one often hopes are true, about turning corners and other such phrases. Nobody sees these corners or feels that we are turning any corners. However, claims are constantly made that this is the case. I cite the example of the costs for NAMA. I do not have the exact quotes from the Minister. However, I can certainly recall being told in this House that the NAMA project would not cost any money-----