Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. This Finance Bill is, effectively, the sad epitaph of a failed Government. Its tombstone is the bailout and the sale of our sovereignty and the writing on the tombstone is the Finance Bill. This debate is happening at a time when 1,000 people are emigrating each week. This statistic, when it rolls off othe tongue, can hide a shocking human reality and sadness for parents. It is happening at a time when there are 450,000 unemployed and 30,000 mortgage holders in serious arrears or default. Therein lies an awful human story for them and their families, with the anxiety that it entails. The other evening I was canvassing in a place called Mullagh in County Cavan, one of the small satellite towns almost on the border with County Meath. After canvassing for three hours in a couple of estates I went home positively depressed because I had heard some horrendous stories. The timeframe for this debate does not allow me to give a graphic description, but they encapsulated all of the issues I mentioned, including unemployment and redundancies.

I stated on the Order of Business that it was welcome that my party leader and the Minister, Deputy Noonan-----