Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

The press reported at the time how ashen faced Deputies Burton and Noonan were, having emerged from these briefings and having been faced with the full reality. However, they just opposed vehemently — as was their right — the last budget and the subsequent Finance Bill. Allegations were also made that the nation was "banjaxed". I am not quite sure who said that, but in deference to the Minister, I will not name the person. Allegations of economic treason were made against people. It is a little disingenuous for the Minister to throw political charges at our side of the House on the legacy left to her. My problem, and the problem with much of the electorate and increasingly within my party, was that being fully aware of what we were facing, she and her colleagues went out and collectively over-egged the pudding. The people were looking for change and they would have got it without many of the misplaced promises made by both the Labour Party and Fine Gael.