Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I wish to address some of the points made in the debate. The suggestion that block layers being paid too much was the cause of the collapse in the construction industry is a first. I have not heard that before, but I have heard it here. What about the building of so many houses, a policy that was encouraged by Government? What about the greed of developers? What about the disgraceful and, indeed, criminal activities of the banks, with no one held accountable yet? These are the reasons the construction industry collapsed, not that block layers were paid too much. Senator O'Malley said that if one is to curtail costs, it means making adjustments. Of course, when costs need to be curtailed, adjustments are required, but it was at the time when we had the Celtic tiger and money was flowing in from construction and other sources that the Government should have been suggesting curtailing costs and making adjustments rather than pumping money here, there and everywhere, resulting in us being in the position in which we find ourselves of needing to ask the IMF for a bailout.