Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

There have been no changes of any substance whatsoever, except to disimprove people's lives.

There have been no changes in the approach to banking, although the system was opposed vigorously by the Government when in Opposition. There have been no changes to budgetary strategy, but the Government now claims the credit for a budget it completely opposed previously. It was ironic to hear former Deputy Healy Rae say on television the other night that he needed €1 million to support the Finance Bill which set the foundation for the return to stability for this country and for which the Government claimed credit all last year. The reason Deputy Healy Rae's vote was required was because Fine Gael and the Labour Party ruthlessly opposed that Finance Bill in their own personal political interest and said they would vote against it again and again. However, they claimed credit for the measures contained in it all last year.

The Minister at the time, Brian Lenihan, a man whose international reputation was beyond compare and beyond dispute, was forced to do a deal with an Independent, Deputy Healy Rae, at the time for his vote because Fine Gael and the Labour Party would not act in the national interest.