David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I have two questions for the Leader but before I raise them I make the point that it is fast becoming obvious to many people that this Government is following the lead of the previous Government. It is becoming again a Government of announcements. We heard the Minister for Finance say on radio this morning that at some point in the future there may be something done in respect of the interest rates that might be good for Ireland. We have had endless optimism from the Minister but no detail.

The President of the European Parliament will address this Chamber today. Sinn Féin is the second largest Opposition party in the Oireachtas and we do not have the opportunity to welcome the President of the European Parliament to this House. That is disgraceful and appalling. I have taken this up with the Leader of the House but I have not got a favourable response. It is appalling. Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that my party is the only party that is standing up to people in Europe and those who are trying to put a noose around the necks of taxpayers by asking us to unfairly shoulder the responsibility for the reckless borrowing of other people that they had nothing to do with the people of this country.

We also had statements in recent times. We all saw the media coverage of commitments given by the then Deputies Eamon Gilmore and Enda Kenny and Senators during the last election campaign in respect of Roscommon County Hospital. There has been a clear betrayal of voters by-----